CSKA Moscow 0-0 FC Ufa

Sunday 15 March, VEB Arena

Man of the Match: Aleksandr Belenov

CSKA Moscow have now gone five matches without a win after their goalless draw at home to FC Ufa. Despite controlling large portions of the match they couldn’t break down the Russian Premier Liga’s second-tightest defence.

In the driving snow and sleet it took a while for the match to pick up much impetus. Nikola Vlasic forced Aleksandr Belenov to spill his long-range shot after 12 minutes, a matter of seconds before Alan Dzagoev blazed wildly over.

CSKA were settling into their rhythm by this stage as Vlasic broke at pace in a three-on-three break with Sigurdsson and Chalov. Although the initial move broke down at the edge of the box Dzagoev again struck from distance, this time on target but comfortably held by Belenov.

Arnor Sigurdsson struck the post from three yards out after chesting down Dzagoev’s measured cross just before the half-hour mark. CSKA were now firmly in control: by half time they had over double FC Ufa’s possession, and eight shots to the visitors’ one.

In added time at the end of the first period though FC Ufa had a rare threatening attack. Viktor Vasin cut out a cross, but from Daniil Fomin’s corner Oston Urunov span brilliantly to outwit his marker and drill a low cross straight through the six-yard box.

Kristijan Bistrovic sent a low shot flying past the post just after the break before bending in a corner to Dzagoev a few minutes later. The ball looped onto the crossbar with Belenov covering underneath.

FC Ufa were restricted to opportunistic bursts at best, but they did produce brief flurries of concern. Urunov twice dispossessed Viktor Vasin with ease, once bursting past the centre-back, only for Igor Diveev - another former FC Ufa player - to slide in to cut out the danger.

During another, Vyacheslav Krotov then broke away at pace with CSKA’s backline backpedalling to find Lovro Bizjak. The Slovenian forward had a reasonably clear sight of goal but sent his shot just wide into the side netting.

With 20 minutes to go Vlasic broke free deep in his own half to spark a counter attack. Sigurdsson picked up possession out wide on the left, skipped inside a couple of challenges and fed Shkurin who slid a shot on the turn down low that Belenov held.

CSKA couldn’t make any of their subsequent counter attacks count, with Sigurdsson uncharacteristically wasteful. 

In added time there were mild moments of drama at each end. Fomin hit a harmless low shot for Akinfeev to hold down low at his near post before Shkurin’s header was tipped over by Belenov.

CSKA Moscow are at home again in their next fixture as they host reigning champions Zenit St. Petersburg on Sunday 22 March. FC Ufa host FC Tambov on the same day.

CSKA Moscow: Akinfeev, Fernandes, Diveev, Vasin, Magnusson, Shchennikov, Bistrovic (Bijol 80’), Dzagoev, Vlasic, Sigurdsson, Chalov (Shkurin 56’)

FC Ufa: Belenov, Sukhov, Nedelcearu, Putsko, Tabidze, Aliev, Carp, Fomin, Urunov, Krotov (Golubev 71’), Bizjak (Vombergar 81’)