Bayern Munich had already qualified for the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League coming into Wednesday and are dealing with a number of injury concerns, but that didn't stop Pep Guardiola from fielding a strong squad against CSKA Moscow. The Bavarians scored early and overcame some early second-half scares before seizing control of the match and eventually winning, 3-1.
CSKA Moscow vs. Bayern Munich: Final score 1-3, smooth sailing for the Bavarians
Some squandered chances by CSKA Moscow allowed Bayern Munich to take the lead in the second half and they never looked back.
Alexander Hassenstein
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There was only one decent chance for each side in the first half, with Bayern converting theirs. Arjen Robben put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute, finishing off a direct move down the left flank. Thomas Müller was released down the wing by a through ball and set up the goal with a cutback pass, which Robben latched onto before finishing to the near post from 12 yards.
Guardiola’s decision to play his best players in a game his team didn’t need to win backfired in the 28th minute, when Philipp Lahm had to be substituted, with Thiago Alcantara entering for him.
Keisuke Honda set up Ahmed Musa in first-half stoppage time with a flicked pass that fooled Dante, but Musa couldn't find his footing and hit a weak shot at Manuel Neuer that was easily saved.
The first five minutes of the second half were excellent for CSKA, but they failed to capitalize on a pair of glorious opportunities. In both cases, Honda was the man guilty of failing to finish. He botched a one-on-one in the 47th minute, dribbling right into Neuer, then missed an empty net from close range three minutes later.
Six minutes after that second miss, Bayern solidified their lead through Mario Götze. The German wonderkid, signed from Dortmund in the summer, went on an impressive run with the ball through four defenders, towards the box, before he sidestepped a fifth and beat Igor Akinfeev from just inside the penalty area. CSKA pulled a goal back with a harsh penalty on Dante for handball, converted by Honda, but Bayern got a penalty of their own three minutes later. Müller converted from the spot on that occasion, restoring Bayern’s two-goal advantage, which they held onto. At the end of the match, youngster Julian Green made a two-minute cameo appearance, marking his first in senior football.
The win is Bayern Munich's 10th straight in the Champions League, which is a new record.
CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Nababkin, Ignashevich, A. Berezutsky, Shennikov, Milanov (Vitinho 90’), Wernbloom, Zuber (Elm 68’), Honda, Tosic, Musa (Bazelyuk 80’)
Goals: Honda (penalty 62’)
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Alaba, Dante, Boateng, Rafinha, Martinez (Kirchhoff 79’), Lahm (Thiago 28’), Robben, Kroos, Müller, Götze (Green 88’)
Goals: Robben (17’), Götze (56’), Müller (penalty 65’)
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