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Bayern hangs on for 1-0 win over CSKA behind closed doors

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MOSCOW (AP) — Thomas Mueller fired Bayern Munich to a 1-0 win away over CSKA Moscow in an empty stadium on Tuesday in the Champions League.

Mueller put Bayern ahead from the penalty spot in the 22nd minute, after Mario Goetze was fouled by CSKA's Mario Fernandes as he dribbled into the box.

The Germany striker slipped while taking the penalty, but still managed to hit it straight and avoid injury.

The spotkick earned Bayern a second consecutive 1-0 victory in Group E after beating Manchester City earlier this month.

Group rival Roma, which opened with a 5-1 victory over CSKA, played City later Tuesday. The Russian champions are bottom after two defeats.

The match was played behind closed doors at Arena Khimki near Moscow as CSKA's punishment for racist behavior by its fans during a match against Viktoria Plzen last season.

Bayern dominated the first 25 minutes and could have scored more in the early stages, notably on 11 minutes when CSKA goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev was forced to turn a shot by Arjen Robben round the post.

After Mueller put the visiting team ahead, CSKA responded well, taking advantage of Bayern's high defensive line to threaten the German champions on the counterattack.

Finnish midfielder Roman Eremenko came closest for CSKA, hitting the post with one curling shot from the edge of the box and also sending a similar effort just over the bar.

Ahmed Musa's pace caused Bayern problems as the Nigerian forward charged in behind the German team's defense and hit a shot that Bayern keeper Manuel Neuer parried. With Neuer out of position, Zoran Tosic missed the target with his follow-up.

Bayern nearly went into half-time 2-0 up after Akinfeev stopped a shot from Goetze and Robert Lewandowski's follow-up effort was blocked.

Bayern coped better with Musa's pace in the second half and succeeded in starving CSKA of possession for long periods, while using possession to slow the game down.

Late on, Mueller could have scored his second, but lost the ball as he tried to round goalkeeper Akinfeev.

CSKA management has said it expects the Russian champions' other two group stage home games to be played without fans as punishment for pending UEFA charges of fan racism and violence during the defeat to Roma earlier this month.

Last year's match between Bayern and CSKA in Russia was also played under a partial stadium ban after UEFA ruled that CSKA fans had racially abused Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure.

Bayern's next Champions League match is a trip to Roma on October 21, when CSKA hosts Man City.