League win for CSKA
After five games without a win, CSKA Moscow picked up three points on Friday night. Georgi Milanov scored the only goal of the game at Arsenal Tula to put CSKA third in the Russian top-flight behind Spartak Moscow and Zenit St. Petersburg
Tuesday's match against the Werkself in the Champions League (18.00 CET) is crucial for the Russian champions. CSKA Moscow, currently bottom of Group E with two points, have to beat Bayer 04 to maintain the chance of finishing in second or third place. After the 2-2 draw at Leverkusen, CSKA drew 1-1 at home to Monaco and lost 1-0 to Tottenham and 3-0 in Monaco.
One win in last ten UCL home games
CSKA have lost two of their last three home games in the Champions League and only recorded one win in front of their own fans in the last 10 games in this competition.
In the last three seasons, CSKA lost their three home games against teams from Germany. In 2015/16 they went down 2-0 to Wolfsburg in Khimki before losing twice against FC Bayern Munich.
Like Bayer 04, the Russian champions are in the group stages for the fourth time in succession. Last term they finished bottom of their group with one win, one draw and four defeats.
Michael Schade: "A win leaves all options open"
A draw in Moscow would ensure the Werkself finish at least third in the group. If Tottenham lose at Monaco one point would secure second place due to the better results against the English side.
"After the great 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium three weeks ago, we want to take another big step in the direction of the Champions League last 16 on Tuesday night," said Bayer 04 CEO Michael Schade. "A win at the Russian champions CSKA Moscow leaves all options open – as predicted – in this balanced group where we could be in a final on 7 December at the BayArena with the chance of winning the group against AS Monaco."
Last win in Russia against Zenit
If the Werkself succeed in reaching the Round of 16 it would be the seventh time Bayer 04 have reached the knockout rounds in eleven Champions League campaigns.
The last time Bayer 04 played a Russian opponent was in the group stage of the Champions League in 2014/15. The Werkself beat FC Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 at home and 2-1 away.
CSKA Moscow player Roman Eremenko, who scored the equaliser for CSKA in the 2-2 draw at the BayArena, has received a two-year ban from UEFA. After the match in Leverkusen Eremenko tested positive for cocaine.
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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