Pep Guardiola is expecting a "weird" atmosphere when Bayern Munich take on CSKA Moscow in front of a near-empty Arena Khimki in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The German champions beat Manchester City 1-0 a fortnight ago in their first Champions League game of the season, and have since collected seven out of nine points in the Bundesliga to lead the division.
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But Guardiola and his players will play their next match in front of only a handful of officials and media personnel following a full stadium closure at the Arena Khimki in Moscow.
"I have never experienced anything like that, and it's hopefully the first and last time," Guardiola told a news conference in Moscow on Monday. "We need to adjust to the situation, but it is a bit weird."
Ahead of their visit to Rome at the end of the month for the third match of their Champions League campaign, Guardiola wants to "take a positive step" against Moscow -- who are facing fresh charges of racist behaviour from their fans after their 5-1 defeat to Roma -- with the Russian side widely regarded as the weakest side in an otherwise strong group.
But the Bayern coach is wary of Leonid Slutsky's side, saying: "They are maybe the strongest team in Russia."
Bayern's sporting executive Matthias Sammer warned on Sunday that anything but three points on Tuesday could put this year's campaign in jeopardy, stating: "We want to win, and I'd almost say we have to win if you look at the stars in the group."
The former Borussia Dortmund player added: "I'm expecting their players to show a reaction after the heavy defeat against Roma. It'll be fierce, admittedly not in the stands but definitely out on the pitch."
Poland international Robert Lewandowski also warned that Bayern should not believe Moscow's heavy defeat in Rome automatically guarantees Munich the three points.
"The first result no longer counts, we must step on the gas," he said. "It's the Champions League, and no matter who you play, whether it's CSKA Moscow or Real Madrid, only the best teams take part in the competition."