CSKA Moscow 1-0 Real Madrid: 5 Talking Points, UEFA Champions League 2018-19

Scorers: Nikola Vlasic (2')

The noose will only tighten for Julen Lopetegui, the Real Madrid coach, as his team slumped to a surprise defeat in Moscow. It was the third successive game, where Los Blancos failed to find the net and despite a showing where they had 26 shots on target, this win is sure to fuel speculation about the squad and the manager.

In fact, one will have to go back a decade and more to find out the last time when Real have not scored in three games. This unenviable record though was achieved under Fabio Capello.

But credit must be due for the CSKA players, who handled themselves admirably in the face of unrelenting Madrid pressure. Despite having only a fraction of the ball, the team did well to stymie the Madrid forwards while at the same time possessing enough guile to trouble the Madrid backline.

CSKA with this victory currently find them on top of Group G and have given themselves a fighting chance of qualifying for the knockout stages ahead of their much more vaunted group rivals in the form of Madrid and Roma.

Here are the five talking points from the game:

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#1 Vlasic magic continues

Vlasic the scorer

Concentration from the first whistle is one of the basics of football. However, on Tuesday night two of the favourites fluffed their starts. If it was Manchester City in the earlier tie against Hoffenheim, then it was Real Madrid in the latter tie. Someone’s loss is someone else’s gain and Vlasic, the on-loan winger from Everton, was on hand to take advantage.

This happened merely 64 seconds in the game when Toni Kroos gifted the hosts their goal with a terrible back pass that was intercepted by Nikola Vlasic, who duly smashed it passed Keylor Navas from inside the penalty area. In the process, the goal became the fastest Real Madrid have conceded in the Champions League since March 2007. Not a stat to brag about nonetheless.

Vlasic though is having a fruitful campaign having scored his second European goal already. Vlasic was on the scoresheet on matchday 1 opener against Viktoria Plzen as well when he grabbed a 95th-minute equalizer.

#2 Scoring becomes the Achilles heel for Lopetegui’s men

Modric and Co. have failed to find the net in three successive games

It was only a couple of weeks ago when Real Madrid were scoring for fun. But time, as they say, passes like the wind and it was the third consecutive match where Madrid failed to score. The stats though will support Madrid’s attacking intent. Already in this campaign, Real Madrid have had 56 attempts on goal, the most by any team.

As Loptegui stated after the game, “Goals come when you keep creating chances and believe you will be more accurate. That is all we can do. I am sure we will soon be scoring again and winning again.” Despite possessing an embarrassment of attacking riches, Madrid hasn’t been able to create any clear-cut chances.

There were multiple shots on goal, but the accuracy left a lot to be desired. Madrid will rue their luck as Karim Benzema, Casemiro and Mariano all hit the woodwork for Real but failed to find any success.

#3 Goncharenko stokes the good feeling for Russian fans

CSKA's manager Goncharenko continues good season at the helm

After earning plaudits in the summer, Russia and its teams continue to surprise everyone in their campaign. The young coach, Viktor Goncharenko got his maiden victory over Madrid and must be impressed with the way his charges defended against much more established names.

After the game, the coach was effusive in his praise of the team stating, “You have to work hard, believe in your capabilities, use your chances and have the best possible support from thousands of your fans. We got all that tonight.” CSKA Moskov players did all that and more and were rewarded for their tenacity.

This win will also go down in the history of CSKA Moskov, as this was their first win over Real Madrid in their third Champions League meeting. In fact, this was also the first time since 2006-07 that CSKA has avoided defeat in both of their opening two Champions League matches in a season. The only dampener for CSKA will be the sending off of Igor Akinfeev, the goalkeeper, who was sent off for dissent after obtaining two yellow cards.

#4 Madrid selections backfire

Lopetegui is under intense scrutiny for his selections

Injury crises are nothing new at football clubs and even the likes of Madrid are not spared the unforgiving hand of injury. The Madrid team travelled to Moscow without their regular club captain, Sergio Ramos and Modric started on the bench. Other substitutes included Mariano, who was not included from the start.

The Madrid coach handed a debut at left-back to Reguilón and chose to persist with Ceballos in midfield ahead of Modric. The early goal didn’t help Madrid’s cause and despite the replacements putting in a good shift, they were unable to create an equalizer. Lopetegui is sure to come under scrutiny but the coach will be more concerned about the lack of clinical finishing which seems to have deserted his team.

Statistically, Madrid’s 26 shots against CSKA was their most without scoring in a Champions League game since the start of 2003-04.

#5 Group G just became wide open

CSKA are the table toppers of group G right now

After two rounds of European games, it is CSKA who lead Group G with 4 points ahead of Real Madrid and Roma. Madrid were deserved winners on the opening night as they ran out 3-0 winners over Roma. On Tuesday night, Roma’s win over Viktoria Plzen, where they handed out a 5-0, thrashing means that now all three teams are in a position to go through to the next round.

Real are currently ahead of Roma on their head to head record but that may change when Madrid visit Rome. With Viktoria Plzen visiting the Bernabeu in the next set of fixtures, Madrid will hope to put some daylight between themselves and the chasing pack as they look to cement their status as reigning European champions.

In the meantime, Los Blancos will have to rid themselves of all the angst and find the back of the net. Their forwards Benzema and Asensio were handed the lowest ratings in the game and that more or less sums up Lopetegui’s problems.