FC Bayern’s record over the last four weeks of played five, won four, scored nine and conceded none is an impressive feat by any standards. It was no surprise that the FCB party set off for Moscow on Sunday afternoon in confident mood, looking forward to Tuesday’s second Champions League Group E fixture away to Russian champions CSKA.
“It would be wonderful if we came away with the three points. It'll be a strange match but definitely not an easy one. Our Champions League group is a big challenge and we can't afford to be careless,” warned chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, knowing a second win to follow up the 1-0 victory over Manchester City at home two weeks ago would be worth its weight in gold.
Following a morning workout in Cologne, the Bundesliga leaders flew from the Rhineland to the Russian capital. The group on the plane comprised the 18-strong matchday squad from the meeting with FC Köln plus backup keeper Tom Starke and youngster Mitchell Weiser, ready for a game sporting director Matthias Sammer believes will be “a fierce fight. Moscow will be determined to show a reaction and we’ll get nothing if all we do is turn up and expect to win.” CSKA crashed 5-1 to AS Roma on Champions League matchday 1.
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