After three games in Group G, the Russian champions are in last place, with a single point. A 2-1 defeat to Inter in Moscow on October 23 virtually put paid to any chance the ex-Red Army side may have had of finishing in the first two positions, and progressing to the last 16.
Although the Moscow club still have a mathematical chance of further participation in the Champions League, Valery Gazzayev's men will now hope they can claim third place and a UEFA Cup spot. CSKA won the UEFA Cup in 2005, having qualified for the competition via the same route.
"We will play as though we are at home," Gazzayev told a UEFA website. "We have to because anything less than a win is not enough. We played a great first half against Inter, sustained injuries to two players and our goalkeeper made a bad mistake for their winner. If we avoid silly mistakes we have a chance."
The Russian domestic season ends on November 11, with Zenit St. Petersburg in first place. Victory in their final game of the season, away to Saturn, will guarantee them the title. Spartak Moscow lie in second place waiting for a Zenit slip-up to hand them their first Russian championship since 2001. Both sides have already earned Champions League spots for next season.
CSKA are currently in third place, which would be enough to send them through to the 2008/09 UEFA Cup.
