[1] On 31 July, Maksim Yeleyev signed a new contract with CSKA Moscow, until the summer of 2024, and moved to Akron Tolyatti on a season-long loan deal.

[7] On 11 August, Lassana N'Diaye joined Swedish Superettan club AFC Eskilstuna on loan for the remainder of 2020.

[13] CSKA opened the season with an away trip to newly promoted FC Khimki, which they won 2–0 thanks to first half goals from Konstantin Kuchayev and Alan Dzagoev.

[16] On 22 August, CSKA hosted Rubin Kazan at the VEB Arena, losing 2–1 to a later winner scored by Denis Makarov, after Nikola Vlašić had cancelled out Soltmurad Bakayev's opener.

[17] On 26 August, CSKA traveled to Krasnodar, drawing 1-1 after Wanderson cancelled out Konstantin Kuchayev's third goal of the season.

In injury time at the end of the match Chidera Ejuke scored his first goal for CSKA and to seal a 3–1 victory.

After Hörður Magnússon was shown a red card early in the second half, goals from Baktiyar Zaynutdinov and Konstantin Maradishvili gave CSKA the win.

[27] CSKA traveled to Austria on 22 October to face Wolfsberger AC in the first group match of their UEFA Europa League campaign.

[28] On 26 October, CSKA hosted Arsenal Tula at the VEB Arena, with Fyodor Chalov opening the scoring in stoppage time at the end of the first half from the penalty spot.

[32] The following day, 5 November, CSKA faced Feyenoord at De Kuip in their third UEFA Europa League match.

Konstantin Kuchayev scored his sixth of the season with a deflected shot past Sergei Pesyakov, before Roman Eremenko missed a penalty for Rostov, and Fyodor Chalov sealed the victory for CSKA in the 74th minute.

CSKA suffered their first league defeat in six games on 29 November, losing 1–0 to Rubin Kazan at the Ak Bars Arena.

[37] CSKA were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League with one group remaining on 3 December, after suffering a 1–0 home defeat to Wolfsberger AC.

In the second half, Pavel Pogrebnyak was sent off for two yellow cards in quick succession before Nikola Vlašić restored CSKA's lead from the penalty spot in the 61st minute.

A hat-trick from Fyodor Chalov secured all three points for CSKA, with Aleksei Kozlov scoring a consolation goal for Rostov.

[41] On 13 January, Vitali Zhironkin returned to CSKA after his loan deal to Baltika Kaliningrad was ended early.

[43] The following day, 22 January, Kristijan Bistrović moved to Kasımpaşa on loan for the remainder of the season, with an option for the transfer to be made permanent.

[46] On 11 February, Takuma Nishimura joined Vegalta Sendai permanently having been on loan at the club for the previous season.

[53] On 25 February, transfer deadline day, Lassana N'Diaye joined Veles Moscow on loan for the remainder of the season,[54] and Nikita Kotin joined Irtysh Omsk on a similar deal,[55] whilst Ilya Pomazun had returned early from his loan to Ural Yekaterinburg.

[57] On 6 March, CSKA hosted Akhmat Grozny at the VEB Arena, winning 2–0 after goals from Salomón Rondón and Nikola Vlašić.

François Kamano gave Lokomotiv the lead in the 16th minute, after Salomón Rondón had earlier had a goal ruled out.

[71] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply.