The Real Champs
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Analyzing Real Madrid’s Champions League opponents in group G

By Sachin Bhat

MONACO, MONACO - AUGUST 30: Kaka draws out the name of Real Madrid during the Champions League Group Stage draw part of the UEFA ECF Season Kick Off 2018/19 on August 30, 2018 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Harold Cunningham - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
MONACO, MONACO - AUGUST 30: Kaka draws out the name of Real Madrid during the Champions League Group Stage draw part of the UEFA ECF Season Kick Off 2018/19 on August 30, 2018 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Harold Cunningham - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images) /
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Pepe (C) and Sami Khedira (L) of Real Madrid fights for the ball against Seydou Doumbia (R) of CSKA Moscow during their round of 16, first leg UEFA Champions League match in Moscow on February 21, 2012. The game ended 1-1. AFP PHOTO/ ALEXANDER NEMENOV (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images)
Pepe (C) and Sami Khedira (L) of Real Madrid fights for the ball against Seydou Doumbia (R) of CSKA Moscow during their round of 16, first leg UEFA Champions League match in Moscow on February 21, 2012. The game ended 1-1. AFP PHOTO/ ALEXANDER NEMENOV (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NEMENOV/AFP/Getty Images) /

CSKA Moscow

In a group of close friends, there’s always an uber-present guy who doesn’t garner attention until someone actually points him out.

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Yeah, CSKA Moscow is that guy in the Champions League. The Horses qualify for the competition almost every year and even if they don’t really shake up the league with stunning upsets, are notorious for being a tough side at home in the Russian capital.

AS Roma, Manchester City, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and Tottenham Hotspur were all made to grind to eke out a result in the recent times. And while the Madridistas may have forgotten, Real too was held to a 1-1 draw there in 2012.

A repeat looks unlikely, but we cannot afford to take anything for granted. We cannot afford complacency. Real Madrid has this bad habit.

But another reason for this tie to be a potential banana skin is because the first leg is scheduled in Moscow after exhausting games against Sevilla and Atletico Madrid in the league in a span of just three days.

One positive the team can draw is CSKA’s stuttering start to the new campaign, winning only one of the first five league games and netting only five.

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