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Real Madrid play Russian outfit CSKA Moscow on March 14 in the Champions League Last 16 Second-Leg, the Spaniards drew in Moscow but in order to secure qualification in the return fixture, they must carry out a series of different tasks.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates scoring just before the hour mark to give Madrid the lead in a bitterly cold Russia on Tuesday night

Real Madrid looked like they were going to return to Spain with a healthy lead from their First-Leg Champions League Last 16 match in Moscow on Tuesday night, but a lasp of concentration made them pay the price as they conceeded in stoppage time.

Before the game, there was much speculation about who manager Jose Mourinho would choose for the match. The former Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan boss said before the match: “I’ll pick the players I think are best suited to the playing conditions.” So what he meant by this was – I’ll pick a defensive formation filled with players who are able to scrap and fight in bitterly cold conditions.

The team consisted of two holding players, Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira, in a usual 4231 system with Karim Benzema leading the line. The starting XI was actually quite a positive one and not what most expected. Cristiano Ronaldo started out on the left and ex-Getafe forward Jose Callejon, who has 3 goals in 5 appearances this term, played on the right.

But this article isn’t a Match Report, no. It’s a analysis of CSKA Moscow’s gameplan and strategy and what Real Madrid have to do in the return leg in order to secure progression to the quarter-finals.

Number 1 – Test out the keeper more

Sergey Chepchugov made his first Champions League appearance for CSKA Moscow this season on Tuesday night as regular stopper Igor Akinfeev is out. And from what I saw, Chepchugov didn’t look that comfortable inbetween the sticks and with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Mezut Ozil firing at him – he’s unlikely to match them. At the Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid must take more shots and test the inexperienced 26-year-old goalkeeper out more.

Number 2 – Stop Seydou Doumbia and you stop the team

Anyone that vaguely follows the Russian Premier League knows that Ivory Coast internationa Seydou Doumbia is one of the best players in the division and argueably CSKA’s most talented individual. Last campaign, the 24-year-old netted 12 times in 15 appearances, this season he’s scored 33 goals in 41 games and he’s one of the Champions League’s top scorers.

The player’s movement and ability to finish is second to none and when presented with a chance on goal, he will take it and make you pay. You cancel the little forward out of the encounter, and you ineviatbly delay Moscow’s game and stop the team attacking wise.

The current La Liga leaders are favourites for the clash on home turf on March 14, but CSKA possess dangers and if they are not allowed to exploit them by Madrid, then it should be a safe passage to the quarter-finals for Jose Mourinho’s side.