Oberlin puts another effort wide off a deflection and the referee blows for full-time!
90' +3
A. Fransson enters the game and replaces M. Elyounoussi.
A final change for Basel to eat up the clock now as Elyounoussi departs for Alexander Fransson.
90'
D. Oberlin has scored a goal for Basel! Assist by T. Xhaka.
Oberlin misses again! A beauty of a cut-back pass from Bua on the left falls to his feet, with the keeper caught napping - and he has an open goal, only to absolutely sky it somewhere to the other side of the city! Madness!
OBERLIN SCORES! Finally, the Basel man converts a chance into a goal, with another solo run fed by Xhaka down the left in midfield and a calm flat right-footed finish as he canters into the box to send Akinfeev the wrong way. The Swiss side are heading home with the three points.
89'
And now Elyounoussi takes a solo run down the left flank - but his finish too doesn't come off and he puts it over the cross bar.
87'
K. Bua enters the game and replaces R. Steffen.
Substitution Renato Steffen Kevin Bua
Oh my word, what a rubbish attempt at a finish by Oberlin. He takes a beauty of a through-ball from Xhaka, and with only the keeper to beat from twenty yards out, somehow trips over the ball and scuffs it right. Comedy gold for the CSKA fans behind the net.
83'
Vitinho blows another shot well wide to the lef from the edge of the box for Moscow. Time is running out for the hosts here.
81'
Oberlin lurks around again and fizzes with a danger amongst the CSKA line. The Salzburg loanee has scored twice this season in the Champions League for Basel - could he be the man to wrap up things in Moscow for the visitors?
79'
Basel are currently heading for their second ever consecutive win in the Champions League this evening, as Zuffi plays a loose ball around midfield. Their only previous success with back-to-back victories was with wins against Oțelul Galați and Manchester United in the final two games of Group C - a group that also weirdly featured Benfica, who are United's fellow Group A opposition tonight.
77'
F. Chalov enters the game and replaces T. Zhamaletdinov.
And that is Zhamaletdinov's last act of an underwhelming game up front - Fedor Chalov comes on to replace him for Moscow's last change.
76'
They go close, as an absolute mess ensures in the Basel box! Vaclik comes out to deal but entirely misreads the ball and fails to get there, leaving only Oberlin on the line of a gaping goal-mouth. It's Zhamaletdinov who gets his head to it - and he guides it onto the top of the net, rather than under the crossbar. A lucky break for the visitors there!
Minute
Description
75'
But now, Natcho has a free-kick, albeit thirty-five ayrds out on the right for Moscow. Players pile into the box - can CSKA nab a leveller against the swing of play?
74'
Elyounoussi can't get the angle right and though he nails the dip of the ball, it sails wide to the right. A let-off once again for the hosts - Basel are starting to account some serious chances now to put the game to bed.
73'
B. Natcho gets yellow.
But wait, Basel have a free-kick straight in front of goal, twenty yards out! Natcho is booked for a barge on Elyounoussi - and it is he who will take the shot now.
72'
Oh, a golden chance for Basel to double up goes beyond their grasp! Oberlin makes a clean break down the left flank and has two men in support inside on his right with a single defender and keeper - but he opts to go for it himself and instead is foiled by Akinfeev. A more selfless act would have probably seen them two goals up.
70'
K. Kuchaev enters the game and replaces G. Milanov.
Another change for CSKA now as Milanov makes way for Konstantin Kuchaev.
69'
Zhamaletdinov hangs his head in frustration again as a clear cut chance on the right side of the Basel penalty area is shut down effectively by sharp defence thanks to Suchy.
67'
Zhamaletdinov chances up on goal again as a long cross comes his way but Vaclik beats him to it. The two have a bit of a fake-out before the keeper scoops up the ball and leathers it away.
65'
Xhaka is then clipped down in a hasty challenge and heads to the sideline for treatment. No further action is given against the culprit - Schennikov - other than a free-kick to Basel on halfway.
63'
Oberlin immediately gets himself involved in a great one-two move with Xhaka going direct on goal for Basel - but some canny defending from Natcho manages to defuse the situation for CSKA.
61'
D. Oberlin enters the game and replaces A. Ajeti.
Indeed, Oberlin comes on for Basel - and it's Ajeti who makes way up front for him.
60'
CSKA only have a single win in their last twelve Champions League games, so their chances of mounting a comeback are slim on recent form here. They're looking toothy though - Milanhov pushes a shot wide from twenty yards out, but it's a markedly improved effort.
58'
Some crafty one-two defending from Suchy and Akanji denies Zhamaletdinov's pursuit down the left side. Basel look like they are about to make their first change too soon.- Oberlin is warming up duly on the sideline.
56'
Both sides sem to have been somewhat thrown by those events but it's CSKA who have recovered best. Fernandes collects a smart cross into the box on the right flank - but he is also pinged for offside and Basel get a free-kick to be taken by Vaclik.
53'
Down the other end, Golovin sprays a shot wide to the right from the edge of the penalty area left-side under little pressure. CSKA have had a huge let-off there - crazy scenes at the VEB Arena.
51'
Oh my word, a disallowed goal! Scenes as Ajeti burries a low shot from a riccochet cross past Akinfeev into the bottom right corner from ten yards out and he wheels off in celebration - only for the referee to reverse his decision half a minute later and cancel the strike out. What drama in Moscow!
50'
Now Zuffi earns a free-kick on the left edge of the box after Wernbloom brings him down. Dangerous territory here for CSKA - Basel have shown their close range threat periodically tonight, as well as their finishing on occasion.
49'
Moscow have a touch more fire in the opening minutes of the second half so far - their approach has gone from one of cautious probing to all-out attack. Fernandes earns a throw on the right wing for them, deep in Basel territory - but Balanta intercepts and plays back to his keeper for safety.
47'
Speaking of Milanov, he goes down from a glancing boot as he twists on the edge of the box and requires medical treatment. The referee remonstrates with Balanta, the culprit, but no free-kick is given.
46'
B. Natcho enters the game and replaces S. Ignashevich.
A change for the hosts too at half-time: Sergei Ignashevich has departed after the first forty-five minutes and Bibras Natcho has taken his place. It's a furious start from CSKA too, as they immediately push forward, with Milanov and Zhamaletdinov attempting shots, only to scuff them into the defence.
Vitinho taps back and CSKA get the second half underway in Moscow!
45'
Zuffi breaks again down the right and slips it to Xhaka - who goes down off a Fernandes challenge. He gets a free-kick that takes a bounce off the wall and skims over the net - and the referee blows for half-time!
43'
Steffen gets a fast ball on the right flank again from Xhaka but he puts too much weight behind his cross and turns it into a hideously mis-cued shot. Moscow will have an eye on the clock for half-time right now - can they hold out a few more minutes?
41'
Oh, an absolutely golden chance for Basel goes begging! Xhaka slots a through ball to Elyounoussi as he encroaches upon the penalty area on the left edge - perhaps ever so slightly offside - but the Norwegian man can't get the angle right and his shot rolls wide to the right by a good few yards.
40'
Back to back corners for Basel are squandered in the end, as they play the ball across the face of the Moscow goal four times but are unable to turn it in. Lang eventually slices and puts it out - CSKA survive again for now.
38'
Now Elyounoussi chances his luck on goal, and it requires a dive from Akinfeev deny him. Basel have a corner now though as a result - CSKA are still under the cosh.
36'
Berezutski conceds a throw on his left flank, deep in the CSKA half and Basel have their hackles up. Steffen's lob into the area is tame though and dealt with swiftly by the keeper.
34'
No he can't. Vaclik reads the sliced cross well, and rises to collect it on the right edge of the penalty area. A soft attempt from Moscow.
33'
Vitinho earns another free-kick for the hosts though now, about twenty-five yards out on the extreme left flank. Can he make it a dangerous cross into the box here?
31'
Well, it would be churlish to say Basel don't deserve that lead, but Moscow won't take it lying down. Milanov and Schennikov both bundle the ball into the visitors' penalty area in quick succession, before Vitinho has a go - but with a mass of defenders flooding around, none can get a decent shot away and Vaclik deals with the danger easily enough.
29'
T. Xhaka has scored a goal for Basel!
What a beauty of a goal from Xhaka! The pressure pays for Basel as the midfielder collects a rebound on halfway, cuts a solo weaving run to the edge of the eighteen-yard box down the centre-right flank, and then volleys a low shot underneath Akinfeev into the left corner. The visitors have the lead, 1-0, on the stroke of the half-hour.
27'
A peach of a sliding tackle from Berezutski takes the ball away from Steffen but Basel regather and continue to push forward towards the Moscow goal. No reprieve yet for the hosts.
25'
Vaclik and Akanji have some defender-keeper interplay at the back as they clear the ball away from the lurking Zhamaletdinov, and then push it out wide to the right as Basel look to advance downfield once more.
24'
Wernbloom flicks a ball back to his keeper as this game ticks over the quarter mark. Basel definitely looked the more menacing of the two sides early on, but Moscow have had a fair share of the ball and perhaps the most clear-cut chance with that Vitinho free-kick.
21'
A bit of to-and-fro between both sides on Basel's right flank leads to a breakaway for Schennikov to supply Vitinho - but the attempted delivery is plucked up by Xhaka and the visitors sweep the ball back to their keeper.
19'
Ajeti races after a ball into the right corner of the CSKA half, but he tangles with Fernandes and loses his chance to press forward as the Moscow man earns a free-kick for a clipped ankle.
17'
Close effort from Vitinho! His effort loops over the head of the defensive wall and skims the top of the net, just missing the crossbar. A bit more dip on that and Moscow could have been a goal to the wise in this game against the run of play.
16'
Moscow break once more through Milanov in midfield and he goes on a winding run before earning a free-kick on the right edge of the box after being fouled by Akanji. Vitinho to take...
14'
Balanta tries to force the ball down the left flank for Basel as they look to pile on the pressure again but he slices it and puts it out. Golovin breaks back down-field from the throw and supplies Zhamaletdinov with a beauty of a through-ball into the penalty area - but he is forced out before he can turn it into a serious chance.
12'
Basel can't make anything with the resulting corner either - and they are then pinged for offside too. CSKA have been let off the hook for the moment, after a few minutes of sustained pressure around the rear.
11'
Petretta now earns a throw on the left flank for Basel and then a second as Berezutski puts it right out. The Swiss side cross into the area and play it towards goal - but some great sliding defence from Schennikov denies them.
9'
Fernandes is pinged for a foul after a clumsy attempt to recollect the ball on halfway fells Petretta. Basel push forward once more.
7'
Akanji now feeds Xhaka on the right side for Basel - and earns a free-kick after he tumbles from a tangle with Vitinho. They swing it inwards beautifully - but Akinfeev reads it perfectly and picks it out of the air by the left post.
5'
Elyounoussi takes it forward down the left for Basel again but he can't find a way through and is forced to play it back to his rearguard by pressing Moscow defence.
3'
Vitinho picks up a cross from right flank to left from Fernandes and tries to carry it into the box with his feet but can't quite get the control he desires, allowing Vaclik to collect with ease.
1'
Zuffi taps it back for Basel and we are underway in Moscow! The Swiss international is pinged for offside as he tries to sneak down the left flank though and he concedes an early free-kick to CSKA - who are playing left to right in striking red and blue against their opposition in all-white.
Good evening and welcome to live coverage of tonight's 2017/18 Champions League Group A clash as Russia's CSKA Moscow hosts Swiss Super League winners Basel in a vital match at the VEB Arena. Both sides lay on three points heading into the third round of games, behind Manchester United – and a win for either would tip the scales in their favour at the expense of the other.
This encounter is the first time either side has met in their history, and their comparative international form makes for equal reading; both have lost to United but claimed scalps against Portugal's Benfica. Both also have fared similarly in domestic campaigns this year; they each lie in third in their respective decisions, out of the automatic places for qualification in next year's tournament.
Both teams have fared well against similar international opposition too; both Moscow and Basel are unbeaten against Swiss and Russian sides respectively, with the former notching up a play-off round win against Young Boys to reach the Group Stage. As for the latter, their only prior tangles were with Spartak Moscow in the 2002/03 Group Stages, where they prevailed both times with two-goal victories.
Basel will be hopeful of netting tonight in Russia; CSKA have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 30 Champions League games, with their last shut-out coming in November 2011 in a 0-0 draw against Trabzonspor. In fact, Igor Akinfeev has failed to keep a clean sheet in his last 41 games, excluding qualifiers – the longest ever run for a goalkeeper in the competition.
History remains against CSKA for progress too; they've not made the knockout stages on their last four appearances in the Champions League, last reaching the round of 16 in 11/12 when Real Madrid knocked them out. Basel also reached the same stage that year, and again in 14/15 – but they are yet to reach the quarter finals too.
Teams out for Zadok the Priest, the anthem of the Champions League, and we're almost ready for kick-off.
Half-time in Russia then, and the hosts trail thanks to that wonderful solo piece from Xhaka. The visitors are deserving of their lead, having dominated for prolonged parts of the game - but they will perhaps rue not taking more chances, with both teams tied at three shots apiece. Still, this is still far from over for both sides - this Group A clash hangs nicely in the balance. Half-time, it's CSKA Moscow 0-1 Basel.
In the end, it could have been so much more. But the squandered chances of Oberlin aside, Basel were clearly the better side for most of this evening's game - and with that first half goal courtesy of Xhaka, they never looked like giving up the lead to a limp CSKA outfit who seemed unable to hit a barn door, let alone a goal. It's telling that despite having eleven shots, none of Moscow's were on target. It's Basel who take the three points then - full-time at the VEB Arena, it's CSKA Moscow 0-2 Basel.
So what next for both teams? Why, the reverse fixture of course, in under a fortnight - on Halloween, no less - at St. Jakob-Park. Basel will take confidence from both a comfortable win tonight that puts them in the driving seat for the knockout stages - and with Benfica losing to Manchester United, they arguably can put Moscow's chances to bed too with another three points. CSKA will be licking their wounds now though - and will be most certainly up for the challenge ahead. Until then, thank you for joining us and have a good night!
Commentary
More…