CSKA shock Real Madrid in Moscow

Toni Kroos gifted his hosts a goal in the opening 90 seconds of the game, and they did not relinquish it over the following 88 and injury time. It puts Julen Lopetegui in a perilous position, with much to think about.

Having chosen not to bring Sergio Ramos on the away trip, and without three other key players injured - Bale, Isco and Marcelo - the Basque manager’s options were limited, but his job was made even harder for him from the off.

Kroos attempted a long, volleyed pass, only to put it straight into the path of Nikola Vlasic, who is on loan at CSKA from Everton. The Croatian bore down on goal, and there was nothing that Keylor Navas could do as he finished off the chance to put his side ahead.

The game had been moved due to demand for tickets, being played in the Luzhniki stadium - the final venue for this summer's World Cup - as opposed to CSKA’s usual home venue, the VEP Arena. Lopetegui already has unhappy memories in Russia, being sacked the day before Spain were due to begin their tournament in June, and watching his side toil and suffer in search of a goal can hardly have helped.

It adds to a string of un-inspiring performances from ‘Los Blancos’, who were hammered in Seville last week before drawing another blank against Atletico in the derby last weekend. However, against a CSKA side who have kept only one clean sheet in their previous 35 Champions League matches, they would be forgiven for thinking that run may come to and end.

What they did not account for was a combination of a stubborn Muscovite defence, and the woodwork. The home side kept narrow and deep while protecting their lead, limiting Real to shots from range and crosses from out wide.

Casemiro hit the post with a low effort, while Karim Benzema and Mariano both saw headers crash off the frame of the goal - the latter with barely a minute left on the clock. That might have been the last action of the game, but there was time for one final piece of drama.

Another cross came in, which Raphael Varane headed wide. Igor Akinfeev in goal took exception to Varane competing for the ball, claiming a foul, and the referee opted to book him. The Russian ‘keeper protested that decision and he was sent off. It was hard to see exactly what he did that warranted a red card, and he took a good four minutes to leave the field of play.

Once he was off, and the sub brought on, the match had ticked into the 99th minute. Finally, with CSKA actually having had one last break, the final whistle went. It leaves Roma - who hammered Viktoria Plzen - and Real tied on three points apiece. CSKA go top.

 

2 October 2018