Showing posts with label CSKA Moscow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CSKA Moscow. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Bayern Munich - CSKA Moscow 3-0

 Champions commence defence with win.Goals from David Alaba,Mario Mandzukic and Arjen Robben secured all three points at the Allianz Arena.

Bayern Munich began the defence of their Champions League crown with a comfortable 3-0 win at home to CSKA Moscow on Tuesday.
A victory for the hosts never looked in doubt and they found themselves ahead within the opening five minutes as the talented David Alaba fired a free kick in from a central position, while Mario Mandzukic added a second with a header just before half-time.
Arjen Robben wrapped up the three points 22 minutes from time after a lovely assist by Alaba, thus securing a win in Pep Guardiola's first Champions League outing in charge of the German club.
Guardiola's men strolled to a similarly comfortable 2-0 win over Hannover at the weekend and the coach made only one change to that team as Dante replaced Daniel Van Buyten at centre-back.
The Russians also came into the game fresh from a domestic victory over Rostov, but the win came at a cost as Alan Dzagoev and Zoran Tosic both picked up injuries, meaning Aleksandrs Cauna and Steven Zuber took their respective places.
Bayern were in control from the start and they took the lead just four minutes in when Austrian Alaba steered a free kick past Igor Akinfeev from the edge of the box.
The hosts' dominance was obvious as they monopolised possession, but they struggled to break down CSKA's resolute defence.
When they did, 10 minutes from half-time, Mandzukic spurned a magnificent chance to double their lead. Rafinha crossed from the right and the forward headed the ball onto the far post before it rolled into the arms of Akinfeev.
But Mandzukic made amends three minutes before the break when Robben whipped in a fearsome free kick from the right and the Croatian forward diverted it past the helpless Akinfeev.
FC Bayern Muenchen v PFC CSKA Moscow - UEFA, Mario Mandzukic
The visitors continued to struggle after the break and Robben could have scored a third, but his volley from inside the area was well saved.
Leonid Slutsky's men enjoyed a rare spell of possession in the hosts' half around the hour mark but they were almost punished soon after.
Mandzukic arrived in the box to meet Alaba's left-wing cross but again found Akinfeev in excellent form.
The Russian goalkeeper could do nothing to deny Bayern their third goal in the 68th minute, however.
Alaba produced a marvellous scooped pass over the CSKA defence and Robben smashed a low shot into the net.
Bayern continued to press for more in the dying stages as Robben's replacement Xherdan Shaqiri created danger on the right flank, but three goals were enough for Bayern who get their Group D campaign off to the perfect start.
4' David Alaba
41' Mario Mandzukic
68' Arjen Robben
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Bayern Munich-CSKA Moscow Preview

 The Bavarians won the competition last season by beating Borussia Dortmund at Wembley and will hope to become the first side to retain the trophy in its modern format

Bayern Munich CSKA Moscow Champions League


Bayern Munich have made three of the last four Champions League finals and under new coach Pep Guardiola they will attempt to become the first ever German side to retain their title.
Guardiola has won the Champions League on two occasions with Barcelona, in 2009 and 2011, and has added Mario Gotze and Thiago Alcantara to his squad in the close season.

Bayern defeated Hannover 2-0 on Saturday to make it four Bundesliga wins from five matches this season, while they also won the Uefa Super Cup against Chelsea last month.
However, the Bavarians have several injury problems to contend with, as Thiago and Javi Martinez remain sidelined after suffering ankle and groin injuries, while Gotze has not played since injuring his ankle in that Super Cup triumph.
CSKA will also enter the match in superb form, having won six and drawn two of their first eight matches in the Russian Premier League.
They reached the last eight of the competition in the 2009-2010 season and also progressed from the group stages in the 2011-12 campaign.
Ahmed Musa and Seydou Doumbia have been in good scoring form this season while the likes of Keisuke Honda, Alan Dzagoev and Zoran Tosic give them plenty of quality in midfield.