Bayern Munich's Fringe Midfielders Come of Age in CSKA Moscow Win

Bayern Munich wrapped up their Champions League Group E campaign on Wednesday, downing CSKA Moscow, 3-0, at the Allianz Arena to wrap up first place in their group ahead of the Russians, Roma and runners-up Manchester City.

The result ensured that Bayern finished with 15 points, a full seven clear of the English champions. And what amounted to a comfortable win for Pep Guardiola's side also came with the trainer having fielded a starting XI with several fringe players. Most notably, these were natural central midfielders Gianluca Gaudino, Pierre Hojbjerg and Sebastian Rode.

All having only earned very limited playing time prior to Wednesday's match, playing in the Champions League was a big opportunity for all three to develop and gain experience. And although Gaudino looked a bit immature, Hojbjerg and Rode (the latter of whom scored Bayern's second) in particular shined brightly for the hosts.

Below, B/R takes a closer look at each of the newcomers, assessing their performance individually:

Gianluca Gaudino

The youngest player in Bayern's starting lineup, Gaudino looked every bit an 18-year-old and no more experienced. Wednesday marked the youngster's debut in the Champions League and first start since for Bayern's senior team since round one of the Bundesliga. And one could tell why Guardiola had not given him a single minute of playing time for two more than months prior to the CSKA game.

Gaudino showed flashes of skill from time to time and wasn't afraid to show flair in his play, a clever back-heel in the first half causing a roar of approval from the home fans. But as earlier in the season, he looked like a boy among men. He still needs to gain at least five kilograms, mostly in his legs, to truly look the part of a professional footballer.

Aside from the physical aspects, Gaudino's decision-making and touch in the final third left much to be desired. He often misplaced the ball in the attacking area, his technique perhaps surprisingly letting him down. Perhaps he felt nerves or wasn't used to such a high level of challenge while playing in the under-19s. Whatever the reason, the youngster overall looked very raw.

The good thing for Gaudino is, he's gained some valuable experienced and made his Champions League debut long before most. He has plenty of potential; he'll just need patience as he aims to become another of Guardiola's success stories in youth development.

Pierre Hojbjerg

Eight months after his heroic performance at right-back against Dortmund in the DFB-Pokal final, Pierre Hojbjerg was fielded in a (more or less) right-sided defensive position against CSKA. Although young, the Dane's performance compared with that of Gaudino proved just how important a 15-month birth date gap can be for players of such a young age.

Whereas his teammate looked raw and inexperienced, Hojbjerg played with the composure of a veteran. And listed by espnfc.com at 1.85 meters and 84 kilograms, he had the physique to compete on such a high level against an athletic CSKA team.

The Dane's was a muted performance overall, his deployment in a defensive position perhaps limiting the chance of him making a real personal statement. But in a defensive position, the best performance is a quiet one. In a mature showing, Hojbjerg took care of business in midfield and defense. Calm and smooth, Bayern may see in him a very formidable opponent if they loan him to another Bundesliga club this January.

Sebastian Rode

A player who once seemed a superfluous signing in the summer, Sebastian Rode has clinically taken his limited chances since moving to Bayern. He was given just his fifth start on Wednesday and swapped roles with Hojbjerg, playing as both right-back and holding midfielder at different times.

The 24-year-old Rode, who has been relied upon more and more as of late, had another excellent performance on Wednesday and capped it all off with a well-deserved goal. Although he is not one to dazzle as a technician, his positioning was tremendous: The ex-Frankfurt man maintained tactical discipline but took advantage of every opportunity to get forward.

Rode was left unmarked after sending a wayward cross late in the game and seized his chance to ghost into the box and nod in a well-deserved goal, his second in four games. Not bad for a defensive player whose playing time has been very limited.