Good evening! The first round of fixtures in the group stage of the Champions League get underway this evening, with Wolfsburg beginning their campaign at home against Russian side CSKA Moscow. The team news has just been released, so let's start with a look at the lineups.

WOLFSBURG STARTING XI: Benaglio, Dante, Naldo, Rodriguez, Caligiuri, Draxler, Trasch, Schurrle, Gustavo, Kruse, Dost

CSKA MOSCOW STARTING XI: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Ignashevich, Berezutski, Schennikov, Wernbloom, Tosic, Dzagoev, Eremenko, Natcho, Musa

WOLFSBURG SUBSTITUTES: Grun, Schafer, Klose, Jung, Guilavogui, Arnold, Bendtner

CSKA MOSCOW SUBSTITUTES: Chepchugov, Berezutski, Nababkin, Cauna, Milanov, Golovin, Doumbia

Bas Dost leads the line for the hosts, having scored twice in their first four matches in the German league this season. Meanwhile, summer signings Francisco Rodriguez, Dante, Max Kruse and Julian Draxler all make their Champions League debuts for the club.

Leonid Slutskiy, who returns to club duties after taking charge of the Russian national side over the international break, makes just one change following his side's draw with Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg at the weekend. Bibras Natcho returns to partner Musa up front, leaving Seydou Doumbia to drop to the bench.

Dieter Hecking's side come into this match in strong form. Wolfsburg are unbeaten in the Bundesliga so far this season, with two wins and two draws from their opening four fixtures. The side were held to a goalless draw by Ingolstadt at the weekend though.

CSKA have already been in action in this competition this season, coming past Sporting Lisbon and Sparta Prague in the qualifying and playoff round. The team has been in strong form domestically too so far this season, winning their first seven fixtures, before dropping points for the first time at the weekend in their draw with Zenit.

Ahead of this match, the CSKA coach told reporters: "It will be an important, if difficult, match. I am responsible for the team and I feel a lot of pressure but I can handle it. Wolfsburg have lost Kevin De Bruyne, yet they were able to react to that with the transfers of Dante and Julian Draxler. Their squad is full of quality."

Meanwhile, Dieter Hecking said at his pre-match press conference: "We are really excited to start the Champions League. We earned this last season, when we had an outstanding campaign. But from my point of view I'm not really excited, because I have to do my job as usual. I have to prepare the team for this match and many things are going through my head. Nobody should think we will win this easily. We have to put on a very good performance in order to start with a victory. Russian football has a lot of quality. But we've learned from our experiences last term in the Europe League."

This is only the second time that Wolfsburg have qualified for the group stage of this competition, having only previously been involved in the 2009-10 season, when they finished third to drop into the Europa League. They've only been back in Europe once since then, making the last eight in the Europa League last season.

In contrast to the home side, CSKA are near ever-presents in the Champions League. The last time they failed to take part in the tournament was during the 2001-02 season, and only once since then have they failed to make it to the group stage. The club's best performance in recent years was a quarter-final appearance in 2010, where they lost to eventual champions Inter Milan.

In their one previous appearance in the group stage of the Champions League, Wolfsburg were in a group with tonight's visitors. They won their home fixture, but lost when they traveled to Moscow. Wolsburg had to settle for a third-placed finish in the group, while CSKA finished second to progress to the knockout stage.

Incidentally, the group winners when these two sides met in Group B in the 2009-10 season were Manchester United, who are also in Group B with these two clubs again this season. They begin their campaign against PSV Eindhoven this evening, and you can follow live coverage of the other Group B match here.

Here's a look at the CSKA squad arriving in Wolfsburg a little earlier:

Wolfsburg goalkeeper and captain Diego Benaglio also gave a press conference ahead of this match, and he told reporters: "[In 2009] we were a surprise package. Over the past two and a half years we have developed really well. We are much more stable as a team. Our fans always do us good. That's something you could really see in the Europa League last season. We can always rely on the support from around the ground."

Like Wolfsburg, CSKA were the runners up in their domestic league last season, finishing second to the Andre Villas-Boas managed Zenit St Petersburg. Wolfsburg were beaten to the German title by Bayern Munich, who secured their 25th Bundesliga title.

The Wolfsburg squad were out on the pitch for their warmup a little earlier:

PREDICTION! The players will be making their way out for kickoff shortly, so there's just time for a quick prediction. The departure of Kevin de Bruyne to Manchester City will have hurt Wolfsburg, but they've still got a strong squad, and playing at home will be a boost, so I'm going for a 2-1 win for the German club.

It's not just Group B in action tonight. Four of the eight groups have their first matchdays tonight, and Sports Mole has live commentaries from all of the fixtures. You can find coverage of all the other matches here.

The players line up and make their way out into the Volkswagen Arean ahead of kickoff. The ground holds around 30,000, but it's surprisingly nowhere near full, despite this being Wolfsburg's first Champions League appearance in six years.

In round two of the group stage, Wolfsburg have a tricky trip to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, while CSKA will be at home to PSV Eindhoven. Those matches will take place on September 30.

KICKOFF! The visitors get the match underway.

Neither side have done much to threaten the goals in the opening couple of minutes, with Julian Draxler failing to get on the end of a long ball forward, while Roman Eremenko gave away a foul while trying to get down the other end for the visitors. Rodriguez tries to get the ball down the right flank to Schurrle, but his first touch is lacking. the home side have had a little more possession, but neither side have really taken control yet.

Natcho and Musa team up in midfield as the visitors try to create something, but Benaglio is quickly off his line to boot the ball away from the Wolfsburg box. Schurrle is soon on the attack down the other end, but Berezutskiy is there to make the block. Wolfsburg certainly look keen to get Schurrle involved in the early stages, but it looks like CSKA have prepared for him.

The visitors quickly press back down the other end, with Musa making a run into the box, but Trasch is there to clear. The Nigerian makes another move as Tosic wins the ball back in midfielder, but Dante is quick to close him down. CSKA are showing plenty of intent getting forward, but haven't produced another to really trouble Diego Benaglio.

Daniel Caligiuri is brough down on the right flank, allowing Ricardo Rodriguez to curl the ball in from out wide looking for Schurrle. It's a lovely ball into the box, but Dante drifts offside as it's played in.

CHANCE! The first real chance of the night falls to Bas Dost as he loses Mario Fernandes to give himself a free header in the box, looking to nod in from a ball in from Draxler, but he somehow manages to nod it over. He'll be disappointed not to have at least forced a save from Igor Akinfeev.

Natcho plays the ball out wide to Schennikov, who squares it back in for Musa, who has shown plenty of attacking intent in the opening stages of this match, but he can only curl it well high of the target.

Draxler takes a tumble while trying to make a move down the other end, but Luiz Gustavo benefits from the lose ball, and his shot is deflected behind for a corner. However, for the second time from a promising set piece, Wolfsburg waste the chance as Dost is offside.

This time it's the visitors with an offside as CSKA patiently weave their way through the middle, before Wernbloom looks to release Tosic down the right, but the midfielder is a bit too keen to make his run. After a quite lively opening 10 minutes, it's started to quieten down a bit now.

Draxler makes a surging run in from the middle looking to create something for the hosts, but his delivery into the box is put behind for a corner. He curls it in himself, but Dost, who got nearest to it, couldn't quite get his head on it. Draxler looks really determined to create something for Wolfsburg.

CHANCE! Draxler is involved again as he slips a through-ball in for Schurrle, who take a touch before attempting to slot the ball into the bottom corner, but he should have hit it first time as Akinfeev has time to rush of his line and block the shot.

Wolfsburg have been trying their luck down the right mainly this evening, but Rodriguez makes a run on the opposite flank before picking out Caligiuri with a low cross, but the midfielder is crowded out by the Moscow defence. The hosts have really started to dominate this match, but have only tested Akinfeev once.

Max Kruse cuts inside from the left, but he's force towards the goalline, leaving him with a tight angle, and AKinfeev does enough to tip it behind for a corner, which is swiftly cleared by Ignashevich.

Caligiuri is brought down on the right flank again, giving the home side a free kick in a dangerous position. The Italian whips it in himself, leaving Gustavo to try to head it in from the edge of the box, but Akinfeev claims it with ease.

CSKA charge down the other end on the counter-attack, but Alan Dzagoev can only smack his effort well high. Tosic quickly wins it back for the visitors as they try to relieve the pressure on their defenders, but Dante boots it away from danger.

CHANCE! How have Wolsburg not opened the scoring here?! Rodriguez slots a perfect ball in for Caligiuri, who has space to get his shot away straight away, but he hesitates, looking to turn onto his stronger right foot, but that gives Schennikov time to get in front of him and make the block. The hosts are still looking by far the more likely though.

Julian Draxler has probably been Wolfsburg's best player so far this evening, and now he's given them the lead with a move started by the summer signing. He wins the ball 25 yards out, passing out wide before Schurrle crosses it back in for the midfielder to hit on the volley. His initial effort is parried clear by Akinfeev, but the keeper hasn't got time to react to the rebound, which goes straight into the bottom left, giving Draxler his first goal for the club.

Wolfsburg clearly want a second before the break as Trasch makes an excellent run out from the back before playing a diagonal ball to Dost. Kruse claims it on the edge of the box looking for the arriving Draxler, but Akinfeev gets to the ball first to clear for the visitors.

Gustavo goes up to win a high ball with Wernbloom, but the referee isn't happy with the Wolfsburg man's physical approach, giving CSKA a free kick, but Tosic's delivery is dealt with by the wall, leaving Diego Benaglio to continue his fairly untroubled first half.

So, Julian Draxler's debut goal for Wolfsburg puts the Bundesliga side ahead at half time in their Champions League group stage match against CSKA Moscow this evening. The hosts really have looked the stronger of the two sides, but CSKA have shown promise on the break, so they're not out of it yet.

In the opening 45 minutes, Wolfsburg had eight shots, five of which were on target, while CSKA had just to wayward efforts. The home side also enjoyed 61% of the possession.

UPDATE: In the other match in Group B, it's also 1-0 at half time, with Memphis Depay scoring against former club PSV Eindhoven to give Manchester United the lead.

UPDATE: In fact, the half-time whistle hadn't quite gone in the other Group B match, and the hosts managed to level just before the break, so it's now 1-1 between PSV and Man Utd. So, as things stand, Wolfsburg will be at the top of the table this evening. However, there's still plenty of action to come tonight.

Back in Wolfsburg, there are options on the bench for the visitors should they feel the need to make changes. They haven't really asked too many questions of the Wolfsburg defenders so far, while the keeper has had just once touch, claiming a loose ball into the penalty area. Seydou Doumbia could come off the bench though, having scored in the 2-2 draw with Zenit at the weekend.

The players are starting to make their way back out for the second half, and it looks like there is going to be a change for the hosts, with Nicklas Bendtner taping his socks.

SUB! Bendtner is indeed coming on, taking the place of Bas Dost for the hosts.

RESTART! Bendtner is involved straight away, taking the second-half kickoff.

Bendtner makes a run down the left before pulling it back to Rodriguez. The defender delivers an excellent ball in for Caligiuri, but as in the first half, but midfielder is too slow to get his shot away, leaving Schcennikov to clear for the visitors.

CHANCE! Wolfsburg are knocking on the door as they seek a second early in the second half. Draxler spots Bendtner is space at the far post, and curls the ball in towards the Danish international, but his header is wide of the target.

Bendtner goes down on the edge of the box, but not before getting the ball through to Schurrle, who wins a corner. Bendtner is still appealing for a free kick though, only getting back to his feet as Rodriguez curls the ball back in.

Wolfsburg are all over the CSKA box again as Kruse sees his shot blocked, before Draxler keeps the move alive with a through-ball for Caligiuri, but Fernandes eventually managed to get the ball to Akinfeev.

CSKA have seen a little more of the ball in the last couple of minutes, with Musa being denied the chance to get his shot away for bringing down Caligiuri while trying to create some space on the edge of the box, while Tosic and Natcho try to get it back into an attacking position for the visitors.

Dante appears to win the ball as he slides to beat Eremenko to the ball, but the CSKA striker is injured in the challenge, somehow resulting in the referee giving a free kick to the visitors. Tosic floats it in, and DAnte misses the chance to clear, leaving Bengalio to palm it away, before Draxler gets it away from danger.

Draxler tries to get involved down the other end as he presses through the middle before looking for Bendtner, but Wernbloom briefly gets it back for the visitors. Bendtner does get his chance when Caligiuri wins it back, but the former Arsenal man's finishing touch is lacking.

SUB! It's an attacking change for the visitors as striker Seydou Doumbia is coming on, replacing Bebars Natcho.

CHANCE! Doumbia wastes no time getting involved as CSKA look for the equaliser, with the substitute playing the ball forward for Tosic, but he can only drive his finish straight at Benaglio.

CHANCE! Sensing that CSKA are starting to show more urgency going forward, Schurrle makes a solo run to the edge of the box for the hosts, curling the ball towards the bottom right from the edge of the area, but Akinfeev makes a diving stop to keep it out.

CHANCE! Benaglio has to make another save for Wolfsburg as Musa curls the ball in for Werbloom, who heads towards the bottom right after timing his jump to perfection, but the keeper manages to claim it at the second time of asking. After barely seeing the ball in the first half, the Wolfsburg captain had certainly been kept busier in the second half.

CHANCE! CSKA continue test the Wolfsburg keeper as Dzagoev knocks a long ball forward into the path of Doumbia, but the striker's finish is comfortable taken by Benaglio. Schurrle gets a show away down the other end moments late on the counter-attack, but it's nowhere near Akinfeev's goal.

SUB! That's the final action for Schurrle as he's being replaced by Maximilian Arnold for the final quarter of an hour plus stoppage time.

CHANCE! Wolfsburg know that they still need a second to make this comfortable in the final stages of the match. Draxler hasn't been as dominant as he was before the break in the second half, but he carves out a solo chance with some stunning footwork on the edge of the box, before curling his effort just wide.

SUB! The visitors make their second change of the evening as Georgi Milanov takes the place of Zoran Tosic. It's a strange choice, as Tosic has been one of CSKA's strongest players in the second half.

Wolfsburg are trying to control the possession again as the match heads into the final 10 minutes, with Draxler and Gustavo moving the ball down the left flank, before the latter attempted to get a cross in for Arnold, but it ends up going behind for a goal kick.

CSKA gets forward again, with Fernandes working the ball forward for Berezutskiy, but the defender is slow to react in the opposition penalty area, allowing Dante to dig it out for the home side. Draxler makes a quick charge down the other end, but can't create anything.

SUB! The Bundesliga side make their final change of the evening as Daniel Caligiuri makes way for Joshua Guilavogui, who is on loan from Atletico Madrid.

CHANCE! Guilavogui has a chance to put the win beyond doubt for Wolfsburg as Arnold crosses in from the left for his fellow substitute, but the midfielder rushes his shot, blasting it wide of the right post.

A lovely one-two between Doumbia and Shchennikov almost puts the latter in for an equaliser for the visitors, but the defender seems to trip over his own feet, before scuffing the ball to Naldo to clear. There haven't been too many interruptions in this match, so it should only be a couple of minutes of stoppage time. Time is running out for the Russians to find the elusive equaliser.

Indeed, it will be just two minutes of stoppage to be played at the Volkswagen Arean, and it's still CSKA on the ball, but the home side have numbers back, knowing that they just need to hand on a few more moments to make sure of the win.

Ignasevich controls the ball from a throw in before trying to tee it up for Doumbia, but the home side get it clear, allowing Draxler to make a run back down the other end of the pitch.He can't find a way through, but Rodriguez and Dante are happy to pass the ball around to run down a few more seconds.

Well, it wasn't the most convincing of performances from Wolfsburg, particularly not in the second half, but the German side do just enough to open their campaign with a win.

UPDATE: There's still a chunk of time to be played in the other match in Group B, following a lengthy first-half delay because of an injury to Luke Shaw. However, as things stand, PSV Eindhoven are 2-1 ahead against Manchester United, meaning the Dutch champions would go top of the table, with Wolfsburg second, unless Louis van Gaal's side score late on.

While the home side will be disappointed not to have scored more goals, having dominated the first half, Julian Draxler will be pleased with his personal performance. He was involved in most of the chances for Wolfsburg, and netted his first goal for his new club, having joined from Schalke over the summer.

Well, that's all from this match, but you will be able to find results and reaction to tonight's results on our Champions League page. Make sure you join us again tomorrow for more action from Europe's top club competition. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.