CSKA Moscow v Real Madrid:REAL MADRID coach Jose Mourinho seems more concerned with the cold weather and artificial turf at the Luzhniki stadium than today's opponents CSKA Moscow.

“Minus 10 (degrees Celsius) outside is not the same as a plus 15,” Mourinho told reporters in reference to the sub-zero temperatures in the Russian capital. “Then you must play on a plastic pitch, which is not easy, especially in cold weather.”

The outspoken Portuguese expressed his dislike for the Luzhniki’s synthetic surface on his previous visit to Moscow with Inter Milan two years ago, saying soccer was “much more beautiful when it is played on a natural grass”.

“Nevertheless, we expect to get a positive result tomorrow, either a win or a scoring draw,” Mourinho yesterday. “The main thing for us is to get the aggregate victory and reach the quarter-finals.”

Mourinho also intends to field his strongest team. “I don’t think I will rest a player just because of the cold or the plastic pitch,” he said. “We have a strong squad, all players are of the same top level and I will make my selection based on the opposite team and not on the outside factors.”

Mourinho and his team will be relieved to know that mild temperatures of around zero degrees are forecast for today’s game.

CSKA will be playing their first competitive game in almost two-and-a-half months due to winter break in Russian soccer.

To make the matters worse for Leonid Slutsky’s side, their current team has little resemblance with the one that beat Inter Milan 2-1 in their final Group B match to secure a place in the first knockout round.

Slutsky may have to hand starting roles to two debutants, Swedish midfielder Pontus Wernbloom and Nigeria striker Ahmed Musa, after they were signed during the last transfer window.

The 19-year-old Musa, who joined from Dutch side VVV-Venlo, will have big shoes to fill following the departure of Brazilian Vagner Love, their talismanic forward who left for Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo last month.