CSKA Moscow warmed up for their clash against Zenit St. Petersburg with a 3-1 win over Norwegian side Odds BK. All four goals came before half time as Jaka Bijol, Ilya Shkurin and Konstantin Maradishvili made the scoresheet.

Bijol drilled an unstoppable free kick into the top corner after just four minutes to lay down a marker, but the Norwegians responded effectively. Almost immediately, Odds forced Ilya Pomazun into an awkward low save at full stretch.

After 11 minutes, Torgeir Borvein rose too easily above Maksim Eleev at the back post to equalise from a left-wing cross. At the other end David Karaev’s shot on the turn was tipped past the far post.

Ilya Shkurin headed the resulting corner over the bar but made no mistake from Konstantin Kuchaev’s cross after 23 minutes. His firm header from six yards out reasserted CSKA’s control of the game.

Maradishvili’s speculative left-footed effort against the post from outside the box demonstrated their increased confidence. Kuchaev and Shkurin also both went close around the half hour mark.

Seven minutes before the break Karaev held up a ball out of defence well to bring Shkurin scampering into the counter attack. The Belarussian forward picked out a precise pass from distance to Maradishvili, who had time to pick his spot to make it 3-1.

There was still time in the first half for Elba Rashani to force an agile reaction save from Pomazun. Igor Akinfeev’s understudy couldn’t be beaten despite three clear chances in the final 20 minutes for Odds.

CSKA 3-1 Odds BK
8 February, Campoamor, Spain
Goals: Bijol 4’, Shkurin 23’, Maradishvili 37’; Borvein 11’

CSKA: Pomazun, Eleev, Gogoua, Nababkin, Shchennikov, Kuchaev, Bijol, Kolesnichenko (Kotin 39’), Maradishvili, Shkurin, Karaev