CSKA Moscow v Manchester United – Champions League Live

CSKA Moscow v Manchester United – Champions League Live

Andrew Flint is Reporting From Moscow –

Welcome to our Champions League CSKA Moscow v Manchester United Minute by Minute report. The Futbolgrad Network covered the last encounter between these two clubs two years ago at Arena Khimki on the outskirts of Moscow. It will be a very different setting tonight with CSKA playing host at their brand new VEB Arena (read the match preview here).

CSKA Moscow v Manchester United – Buildup

FULL TIME: Despite a late goal for another CSKA youth product, it was a chastening evening for CSKA. The teams both had 15 shots at goal, but there was only one team in it from the 4th minute when Romelu Lukaku headed in his first. Sloppy defending, nervous passing, lack of ideas – it is hard to put your finger on exactly what it was that caused such a poor showing, but Gonchgarenko will rarely face a team so completely in control as he did tonight. Kuchaev’s goal and the exuberant but intelligent play of Aleksandr Golovin were the bright points, but were no match for Mourinho’s men.

Join us over on Instagram and Twitter for some post-match reaction from the mixed zone, but for now, it’s good night from me, and good night from Moscow!

90 mins GOAL! But not for United! Konstantin Kuchaev smashes home from close range to add a sheen of something resembling respectability.

87 mins Golovin charges forward and sweeps a half-shot half-cross that is a touch too strong for Zhamaletdinov to reach. At least he’s still trying…

85 mins Marcus Rashford skies a free kick right into the middle of the CSKA ultras, who are now bare-chested in the chilling Moscow evening. 10 shots on target to CSKA’s five, but that doesn’t even come close to demonstrating the distance between the sides.

82 mins Matteo Darmian breaks into the box clear but his shot is blocked by Akinfeev. Despite being away from home, with less than ten minutes to go, being 4-0 up and managed by Jose Mourinho, United are STILL playing with two up front…

77 mins The pace of the game has understandably slowed somewhat as we enter the closing stages. Lukaku, to his credit, has just worked back to his team’s left-back area to help defend against Viktor Vasin. Comfortable it may have been for the big man, but he’s not being lazy.

73 mins Not many more comfortable European away games for Lukaku tonight…

70 mins Matteo Darmian on for Ashley Young for United, and is called upon to help clear a half-break from Zhamaletdinov. Mourinho, have you no mercy?? Here comes Marcus Rashford…

64 mins Timur Zhamaletdinov -scorer of the winner away to Benfica in Matchday One – is coming on for Fedor Chalov CSKA. there can be fewer more thankless tasks for a teenager than to come on to try and turn around a 4-0 deficit to Manchester United…

60 mins Golden chance again for United, this time it is substitute Jesse Lingard who is sent through after Anthony Martial’s devastating run at the defence, but Akinfeev blocks it over the bar with his body.

58 mins GOAL! Mkhitaryan tap in. Anthony Martial ghosts between CSKA’s flailing centre backs in so much space, and while Akinfeev palms away the shot, Mkhitaryan is on hand to slam home from close range.

56 mins Fernandes dares to roam forward but runs out of ideas when faced with Daley Blind, who has no problem shepherding the ball out for a simple goal kick. Moments later Lukaku is AGAIN left unmarked, but his touch lets him down. It doesn’t matter though, because…

54 mins Wernbloom is booked for some verbals to the referee in protest at Mkhitaryan going down to contact from Dzagoev. The Armenian is back up and fine though.

51 mins Daley Blind rises highest to send an Ashley young cross just over. Anthony Martial is lining up alongside Lukaku this half – apparently Jose Mourinho isn’t content with sitting back. And this was after he had warned of having to respect ‘the best CSKA team he has seen’ in yesterday’s conference…

48 mins Ignashevich makes a desperate last-ditch sliding challenge to dispossess Lukaku in the six yard box, then moments later Wernbloom does something similar – can CSKA have just a moment’s respite??

46 mins We’re back underway here in Moscow, and almost straight away Aleksandr Golovin flashes a chot a foot over after sending Ashley young sliding the wrong way with tricky footwork.

HALF TIME: CSKA Moscow 0-3 Manchester United. The most worrying thing about the first half from CSKA’s perspective is quite how straight forward it has been for the visitors. Lukaku is one of Europe’s most dangerous target men, and he was left unchallenged for his second, so what did CSKA expect? Chalov and Golovin are the bright sparks for the hosts with some useful combinations, but this will take the miracle of all miracles if the result ends up anything other than a United win. See you in 15 for the second half – I’m off to enjoy a banquet. Well, a bowl of soup anyway…

44 mins Dzagoev shot easily saved down low by De Gea. Technically it was a shot on target, and it is one of the more promising moments, but that says more about the disparity between these teams really.

42 mins OK what positives can CSKA draw so far? Well I was about to say Martial had been kept quiet, but the Frenchman glides past three defenders before slipping it to Lukaku, but the danger is cleared.

39 mins Despite the rare flashes of inspiration from Golovin and Chalov, United are utterly dominant, and things are a tad bit quieter around me here in the press area…

36 mins Sensational from De Gea! Golovin patiently combines with Dzagoev before finding Chalov in the box, who creates his own space brilliantly before forcing an acrobatic fingertip save from the Spaniard.

34 mins CSKA fans doing their best to create some noise, but it’s going to take a lot more than that, commendable as their support has been. Lukaku is fed by Mkhitaryan outside the box with acres of space to take two touches and smash a shot low. Akinfeev gets down well to divert it for a corner, but again it is just too easy for the visitors.

31 mins Patient build up play on the right involving Fernandes and Golovin is wasted when Chalov’s dummy leaves the ball rolling to no-one. CSKA had five players lined up across United’s flat defensive line showing no movement; Goncharenko has some serious work to do.

27 mins GOAL! CSKA 0-3 Manchester United. Erm, nope. Lukaku again at the back post, with almost a hint of surprise at how much space he had. The Belgian folds his arms in appreciation of, well, himself. And why not, he’s had an easy ride so far.

23 mins Best move of the match from CSKA involving Golovin and Chalov. Golovin evades Herrera on the edge of the box but his shot bends just wide of the right hand post. A glimmer of hope?

21 mins Swedish referee Jonas Eriksson gives a very harsh free kick against his compatriot Wernbloom after CSKA’s destroyer had won possession high up the pitch. Needless to say, Wernbloom was not happy…

18 mins PENALTY! CSKA 0-2 Manchester United. Mkhitaryan felled, Anthony Martial slots it bottom right with ease. United in complete control now, very hard to find a way back.

16 mins A sight of goal for the newly-bald Vitinho as Dzagoev finds him out wide right in the penalty area, but his shot is blocked into his own legs and harmlessly behind for a corner.

13 mins Mkhitaryan from point-blank range denied by Akinfeev! Daley blind afforded far too much space out wide on the left of the CSKA penalty area despite a five-man defence.

9 mins Pontus Wernbloom doing a good job of mopping up United attacks, but sloppy possession is letting CSKA counter attacks down. Vasin deflects a Mkhitaryan shot behind for a corner.

6 mins Dzagoev nearly strikes back straight away after a Golovin mis-kick falls to him on the edge of the box. De Gea tips it round the post.

4 mins GOAL! Lukaku header, CSKA 0-1 Manchester United.  The giant Belgian makes no mistake rising above Berezutskiy at the back post. CSKA already up against it

3 mins Beautiful outside of the boot curving through ball from Aleksandr Golovin into path of Alan Dzagoev but Smalling cleared. Hang on…

2 mins Lovely flick from Anthony Martial to set Mkhitaryan racing towards the CSKA defence, but the ball ran away from the Armenian.

19:40 Want to feel jealous?…

19:30

Manchester United fans were welcomed by the now traditional ‘Gentlefan’ event, handed jumpers and raincoats by volunteers just as they had been in Rostov earlier this year in the Europa League. A certain VIP special guest was there to support the movement…

19:20

Teams are in! CSKA fullback Mario Fernandes recovers from injury, while United opt for a three-man defence.

CSKA: Akinfeev – Fernandes, Ignashevich, V. Berezutskiy, Vasin, Schennikov – Wernbloom, Dzagoev, Golovin – Chalov, Vitinho

United: De Gea – Smalling, Bailly, Lindlelof – Young, Herrera, Matic, Blind – Martial, Lukaku, Mkhitaryan

18:00

The brand new VEB Arena in Moscow will play host to tonight’s big match.

CSKA Moscow v Manchester United will take place at the VEB Arena in Moscow. (Photo by Epsilon/Getty Images)

CSKA Moscow v Manchester United will take place at the VEB Arena in Moscow. (Photo by Epsilon/Getty Images)

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