Moscow: CSKA Moscow will play their Champions League games at the stadium that hosted the World Cup final.
The Russian club say they have moved their three group matches to the 81,000-seat Luzhniki Stadium, a big step up from the 30,000-capacity VEB Arena which CSKA opened two years ago.
CSKA’s game against Real Madrid on October 2 will be the first game at the Luzhniki since France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final on July 15. CSKA also host Roma on November 7 and Czech club Viktoria Plzen on November 27.
It could be a welcome return to the Luzhniki for CSKA players such as goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev and right back Mario Fernandes, who beat Spain there while playing for Russia at the World Cup.
