Quiet win for Bayern

Bayern Munich's 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow in Group E of the Champions League on Wednesday was not particularly memorable for the sporting highlights: an obstinate CSKA defense saw off one try after another from Bayern's Robert Lewandowski, Mario Götze, Thomas Müller and Arjen Robben, while CSKA's counterattacks were too disorganized to ever pose a real threat.

Other than Müller's penalty in the 22nd minute, the most interesting aspect of Wednesday's match may have been what was happening – or not happening – in the stands.

Sanctions from UEFA against the capital city club meant that no fans were allowed in the stadium. Fan unrest during their group stage match against Czech club Viktoria Plzen last season were the cause of the sanctions, and only a small number of people – mostly journalists and officials - were allowed inside Moscow's Khimki Arena on Wednesday.

"[CSKA] Moscow played a bit of a strange game - appropriate given the empty stands," Müller said in an interview with Germany's Sky broadcaster after the match, referring to the host's determination to play defensive football even while trailing 1-0.

Bayern Munich's chairman, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, had a similar take on a match where banter between the players could clearly be heard without the din of spectators.

"I hope I don't have to experience that again," he told Sky afterwards. "It wasn't much fun. I find it more enjoyable to look out at practice on our training grounds from my office."

Some fans had gathered at the gates of the arena, singing songs and bellowing chants that could be faintly heard inside. Toward the end, small groups of people – possibly guests of sponsors – joined in with their counterparts outside the stadium.

The win marked Bayern Munich's 100th victory in the Champions League and is their second from two matches in the group stage of the current campaign. CSKA lose their second game in Group E after getting clobbered 5-1 two weeks ago by AS Roma in Italy.

Manchester City drew with Roma 1-1 in Tuesday's other Group E match. Bayern lead the group with six points, followed by Roma in second with four. Manchester City are in third with a single point, and CSKA are in last with no points.

Bayern Munich's next group match is October 21 in Rome. CSKA Moscow host Manchester City on the same day.

Click here for CSKA Moscow vs. Bayern Munich as it happened.