Real Madrid 0-3 CSKA Moscow: 5 Talking Points & Tactical Analysis | Champions League 2018-19

#3 Madrid enjoy a fine attacking spell, but Moscow score two before half time

Asensio was unlucky to have hit the post

At the halfway stage of the first 45, the match finally opened up as Real Madrid shifted gears quite drastically. In the 24th minute, Vinicius received the ball down the left hand side and wriggled past challenges. He twisted and turned until a fingertip save from Akinfeev was produced off his fine strike.

The ball fell to Asensio, who tried to dip it but only just hit the frame of goal. His shot was exquisite, but the Spaniard was unlucky on that occasion. Moments later, Benzema picked the ball up in the middle third of the pitch and drove forward. He launched a shot, but the attempt was blocked by a red shirt.

Marco Asensio then produced a glimpse of class, as he completed over seven passes with around five players and got on the end of the move he had created, but couldn't apply the finishing touch.

Stunning work

However, a rare passage of play from the visitors unfolded, with Sigurdsson running through the Madrid midfield and offloading to Chalov, who cut back to his left and left Courtois with no chance.

The same man was in the thick of the action for the second goal, as he laid it up for Mario Fernandes with a back-flick. The wing-back was afforded too much space. He stuck to the basics and struck a fine-tuned shot, which was saved by the Real Madrid custodian.

However, the rebound fell to the Shchennikov, who didn't catch it all that well but made no mistakes. Bernabeu meanwhile, was flummoxed amid silence.