Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the
Champions League clash between
CSKA Moscow and
PSV Eindhoven.
The home side will be determined to get off the mark in their Champions League campaign after they were defeated by Wolfsburg in their opening game. Julian Draxler scored the only goal of the match at the Volkswagen Arena to condemn
Leonid Slutski's men to the loss to leave the Russian side with an uphil task to reach the knockout stage.
PSV got their campaign off to the perfect start as they stunned Manchester United at the Philips Stadion with a 2-1 victory. Former player Memphis Depay fired the Red Devils ahead in the first half, but Hector Moreno and Luciano Narsingh struck after the break to guide
Phillip Cocu's men to the comeback win. The result has given the Dutch side a strong platform to build off for the rest of the group campaign.
The team news has been announced and we'll start with the home side.
CSKA MOSCOW STARTING XI: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Ignashevich, A Berezutski, Schennikov, Wernbloom, Tosic, Dzagoev, Natcho, Musa, Doumbia
SUBS: Chepchugov, Vasin, Nababkin, Cauņa, Milanov, Eremenko, Panchenko
PSV EINDHOVEN STARTING XI: Zoet, Moreno, Arias, Bruma, Brenet, Hendrix, Propper, Maher, Narsingh, Lestienne, Locadia SUBS: Pasveer, Poulsen, De Wijs, Pereiro, Schaars, Vloet, Bergwijn.
PSV are without captain Luuk de Jong and midfielder Andres Guardado due to ankle injuries. Jetro Willems is also out with a knee injury, leaving Jurgen Locadia, Jorrit Hendrix and
Santiago Arias to replace them in the lineup this evening.
Igor Akinfeev and Aleksei Berezutski have both passed fitness tests to play for CSKA this evening, but Roman Eremenko has been forced to settle for a place on the bench as
Ahmed Musa and
Seydou Doumbia lead the line for Slutski's men.
Slutski has admitted that this is a huge match for his side in the context of their campaign following their defeat to Wolfsburg. He has conceded that, although PSV have lost key players over the summer, they are still a formidabble unit.
He told reporters: "Memphis Depay was a big player at PSV last season and his sale might have unsettled the team. They will not have Andrés Guardado or Luuk de Jong either. We know PSV is a talent factory. Now they have a new batch of young players with great individual skills. It will be a difficult and interesting match.
"PSV are going well in their league – 14 points from seven games. They beat Manchester United, the league leaders in England, so they should not be underestimated. This is a very important game, because our result on matchday one [a 1-0 defeat at Wolfsburg] was not satisfactory. We fully understand the importance of Champions League matches. We have worked so hard to get to the group stage, so underestimating our opponents is out of the question."
Cocu has revealed that his side are determined to play with the same intensity they produced in their win over Manchester Unted in their clash in Russia.
He told reporters: "CSKA are a very good side with a good squad of players and they are a well-organised outfit. We will try to play as well in this match as we did in our first group game. All clubs are different and it is impossible to compare one team with another. You can play well and not get the desired result. It is impossible to compare CSKA, Dinamo and Zenit – Wednesday's match will show how ready we are for this challenge.
"The loss of De Jong should not have an effect on our attacking play. His replacement has all the necessary qualities. Unfortunately, not many people know about CSKA in the Netherlands, but we have watched some of their latest matches and have compiled some information. All the teams in the group are of roughly the same standard. Every mistake could have a bearing on the match and could cost the team that makes them dearly."
The players are out on the pitch and we should be underway shortly.
KICKOFF! We're underway in this Group B clash.
Tosic raids down the right for his side and drills a low ball across the face of goal, but Moreno is there to cut out the cross and clear the ball to safety.
Tosic makes another darting run down the wing and this time feeds the ball into the path of Doumbia. The forward twists and turns to win a corner from the challenge of Brenet. However, the set piece comes to nothing.
CHANCE! Lestienne lifts the ball into a dangerous area of the box and Locadia manages to get inbetween the two CSKA centre-backs, but with the goal gaping the forward fails to make contact with the ball.
Tosic weaves his way into the box and tries to pull the trigger, but Bruma gets his foot to the ball to steer the ball out for a corner. The winger has made a promising start to the match.
GOAL! CSKA Moscow 1-0 PSV Eindhoven (Musa)
Tosic whips the corner in from the right towards the near post and Musa manages to collect the ball in front of Brenet, and he guides the ball past Zoet into the botom corner from close range. A smart finish from the winger, but poor defending from the visitors.
CHANCE! Propper receives the ball 25 yards from goal and decides to take the shot on his right foot. His effort has power and looks to be troubling Akinfeev, but his effort goes inches over the bar.
PSV have made a good response since going behind as they have dominated possession, but are yet to test Akinfeev. Cocu will want to see more from his side in the final third, despite their good use of the ball in the middle of the park.
YELLOW CARD! Locadia goes into the book for simulation as he goes down under no contact from Wernbloom outside the box. There was no need for that from the forward.
CHANCE! Doumbia has a glorious chance to double his side's lead, but he can only fire his effort over the bar. Tosic and Fernandes combined well down the flank to open up the opportunity, but the striker snatched at the ball, sending his scuffed strike over the bar.
CHANCE! Lestienne comes within inches of firing the visitors level as he takes control of the ball on the edge of the box, and takes the ball onto his right foot. The winger curls a strike towards the top corner, but his strike goes inches over the bar.
GOAL! CSKA Moscow 2-0 PSV Eindhoven (Doumbia)
Doumbia does hit the target this time as he latches on to a cross from the right from Fernandes and he stretches his head to guide the cross past Zoet into the top corner. A fine ball from the full-back and equally impressive finish from the Ivorian.
CHANCE! A mistake from Moreno allows Doumbia in on goal directly from the restart, but the forward loses his composure at the vital moment and sends his effort over the bar. The 27-year-old scuffed his strike as Moreno managed to get back at him, but it was a glorious opportunity to put the game beyond PSV.
PSV are still playing the ball around at a high tempo in the final third, but are lacking penetration. As soon as they lose the ball they look vulnerable on the counter as the pace of Musa and Tosic are causing them all sorts of problems on the flanks.
The home side try to keep the pressure on the Dutch team with a corner and Natcho puts the ball into the six-yard box with an inswinging delivery. Zoet flaps at the ball, but he is bailed out by the referee who awards a free kick.
Musa raids forward at the PSV defence and he shapes to shoot, but he fakes the strike to play a through-ball into the path of Dzagoev. The midfielder almost reaches the ball and appears to be held back by Moreno, but the referee is unmoved as Zoet gathers the loose ball.
The visitors work the ball well in the final third, but the two efforts they produce at goal from Locadia and Propper lack power and Akinfeev is able to gather the loose ball with ease. PSV need to find a clinical edge to get back into the game.
Doumbia continues to cause problems for the Dutch side as he wins a free kick in a dangerous position down the left following a challenge by Bruma.
PENALTY TO CSKA!
YELLOW CARD! Tosic causes mayhem in the box for the home side as he plays a neat one-two with Dzagoev and raids through on goal. Zoet comes out and brings him down to concede the penalty, which results in a booking for the keeper. Doumbia has the chance to seal the game for CSKA.
GOAL! CSKA Moscow 3-0 PSV Eindhoven (Doumbia pen.)
Doumbia takes a stutter-step run and converts the spot kick with ease by putting his strike into right side of the goal, sending Zoet the wrong way. That surely is the game for the home side now.
CHANCE! Musa has the chance to make it four as he collects a loose ball 30 yards from goal and raids towards the box. The PSV defenders back off and the winger strikes the ball with his left foot, but Musa sends his effort just past the post.
PSV continue to pile men forward to try to get into the game as Narsingh lifts his delivery into the box from a corner, but Bruma can only head his effort straight into the hands of Akinfeev.
Ignashevich's clearing header from a long ball into the box is poor and lands at the feet of Propper on the edge of the box. The midfielder strikes the ball, but his effort goes just over the bar. Propper should have tested Akinfeev with his strike.
PENALTY TO CSKA!
YELLOW CARD! Arias goes into the book for a late challenge on Musa. The defender looks stunned as the referee points to the spot, but he did catch the ankle of the winger as he raced into the box. Doumbia will take the penaly as he looks for his hat-trick.
MISS! No hat-trick from Doumbia and there is still a small glimmer of hope for the Dutch side as the forward sends his strike from the spot over the bar. Zoet did a good job of moving at the last second to distract the Ivorian and he seemed to be distracted as he leant back on his strike and sent his effort over the frame of the goal.
HALF-TIME: CSKA Moscow 3-0 PSV Eindhoven
Half time in our Champions League Group B clash and what a first 45 minutes it has been for the Russian outfit. A brace from Seydou Doumbia and a strike from Ahmed Musa has put them 3-0 in front at the break, and it could have been even better for them had Doumbia scored from the spot just before the whistle. CSKA have been dominant in the match and have been clinical in the final third with Zoran Tosic and Musa pulling all the strings, while Doumbia has been hit and miss in front of the net, but has still notched two goals. The home side surely have the game wrapped up, but will want to maintain the intensity of their first-half display in the second period.
If the first half was perfect for the home side, it could not have gone much worse for the visitors. Cocu's men were torn apart time and again at the back, despite dominating possession. PSV had 63% of the ball in the first half, but still trail 3-0 at the break. It shows that statistics are not everything in football. Cocu will be demanding to see more from his side in the final third in the second period.
UPDATE! In the other match in Group B this evening, it's 1-1 between Manchester United and Wolfsburg. The German side took the lead through Daniel Caliguiri, but Juan Mata equalised from the penalty spot before the break. You can follow te action from that game in our commentary
here.
The players are back out for the second half so we should be underway shortly.
RESTART! We're back underway at the Khimki Arena.
Lestienne gets around the back of the CSKA defence, but his low ball into the box fails to find the run of Locadia as the forward made a run to the near post. The two PSV players were not on the same page there.
CHANCE! Tosic is denied a goal by a fine save from Zoet as the PSV keeper manages to keep his side in the match with a fine one-handed stop. The CSKA winger raided into the box and carved out space to strike the ball on his left foot, but Zoet was alert to the danger to make the save.
CHANCE! Maher should get PSV back into the match as he makes a good run in behind the CSKA defence and Hendrix picks him out with a fine lofted pass into the box. However, Maher's headed effort is tame and straight at Akinfeev, who makes the comfortable save. Huge opportunity spurned by the visitors.
CHANCE! Akinfeev makes a huge save to keep his side in a comfortable lead as Dzagoev gives the ball away on the edge of his own box and Locadia finds the run of Narsingh down the left. The winger cuts back on to his right foot and curls the ball towards the top corner, but the Russian stopper makes a fine one-handed stop.
PSV have had a strong start to the half and should have at least got one goal back to reduce the deficit. There is still work to be done by the home side to see this result out.
Narsingh continues to be a threat in the final third for the visitors with another mazy run. He has the opportunity to break in behind the CKSA backline again, but chooses to offload the ball Locadia who gets crowded out on the edge of the box.
GOAL! CSKA Moscow 3-1 PSV Eindhoven (Lestienne)
Hope for the Dutch side as they get a deserved goal from their exploits in the second half. Narsingh and Maher link up in the final third to send the midfielder through in the inside left channel. Maher sends a low bal across the face of goal and Lestienne pounces to fire home at the back post to get his side back into the match. Game on!
Bruma sends a long ball into the final third and Akinfeev jumps to gather, but is clattered by Locadia. The striker has already been booked and it's a senseless challenge, but the referee opts not to send him on his way this time, but he will be on his final warning tonight.
CHANCE! Doumbia has the chance to wrap up the game for the second time as he pounces on a loose ball in the penalty area, but his close-range strike is deflected behind. The opportunity came about through further good work between Tosic and Fernandes, and the right-back sent a low ball into the box for Dzagoez who saw his effort blocked by Bruma. Doumbia pounced then pounced on the loose ball in the six-yard box, but his shot was deflected wide.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Eremenko and Milanov come on for the home side to replace Tosic and Natcho.
GOAL! CSKA Moscow 3-2 PSV Eindhoven (Lestienne)
The comeback is well and truly on for PSV this evening as Lestienne notches his second goal of the game to bring his side within a goal of parity. The same combination brings the goal as Maher raids down the left and beats a challenge before squaring the ball into the path of the winger on the edge of the box. The Belgian takes the shot on first time and fires his strike into the top corner past the outstretched hand of Akinfeev. A super strike from Lestienne and PSV are back in this game for sure now.
STAT ATTACK! Akinfeev has failed to keep a clean sheet in his last 32 appearances in the Champions League, including qualifying.
PSV are enjoying all the possession at the moment and the home side are well and truly on the back foot. CSKA are encamped on the edge of their own box and seem content to try to draw the Dutch side forward in an attempt to hit them on the break. A risky strategy.
Doumbia feeds the run of Musa and the winger displays his pace in the final third to put pressure on the PSV backline, but Bruma gets back at him well and manages to win a goal kick for the visitors to quell the danger.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Lestienne sustains an injury and is forced to make way for Pereiro, which is a huge blow for PSV. Meanwhile, Brenet also makes way for Poulsen.
RED CARD! Arias is beaten by the pace of Musa down the flank and is forced to bring the winger down. The referee has no alternative but to reach for his pocket and show the full-back his second yellow card and then a red. PSV down to 10 men and that could well halt their comeback.
Locadia has been his side's downfall this evening as he has offered nothing in attack. Maher tries to pick him out in the box with an incisive through ball, but the forward is flagged for offside and it's not even close. Very frustrating for his teammates.
Further frustration for PSV from Locadia as he makes a good run towards the back post and Maher picks him out with a sublime lofted pass. However, he cannot control the ball with only the keeper to beat and the ball goes behind for a goal kick. Cocu has his head in his hands, and he's not the only one on the PSV bench.
YELLOW CARD! Schennikov is late on Hendrix with a challenge down the left and goes into the book.
CHANCE! Maher makes a surging run into the inside left channel and sends a low ball across the face of goal for Pereiro, but Schennikov comes across to make the vital block to divert the ball behind for a corner. Huge intervention from the left-back.
There will be three minutes of added time.
SUBSTITUTION: Panchenko replaces Doumbia as CSKA take vital time off the clock. PSV are running out of time to force an equaliser.
PSV cannot get the ball forward and Bruma is forced into a last-ditch challenge to prevent Panchenko from scoring with his second touch. However, the home side will have the chance to kill the clock from the corner.
FULL-TIME: CSKA Moscow 3-2 PSV Eindhoven
What a game we've had this evening. CSKA Moscow get off the mark in their Champions League campaign by earning the three points, but they were made to work hard for them, despite holding a 3-0 lead at the break. The home side were dominant in the first period and should have been out of sight as Seydou Doumbia notched a brace and Ahmed Musa found the net. However, the Ivorian should have had four goals as he missed a penalty and one-on-one with Jeroen Zoet. Leonid Slutski's men almost paid for their missed chances when
Maxime Lestienne brought PSV Eindhoven back into the game with two goals in the second half, but the visitors could not net a third goal as the hosts held out for the victory.
UPDATE! Manchester United recorded a 2-1 victory over Wolfsburg in the other match in Group B this evening, meaning that all four teams in the group are equal on three points each ahead of the third round of fixtures next month. You can find our report on that game and all the other Champions League matches this evening
here.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening, until next time, goodbye.