Trabzonspor 0-0 CSKA Moscow: Stalemate in Turkey as both sides fail to stake qualification claim

Ten-man CSKA Moscow held out for a 0-0 draw against Trabzonspor at the Huseyin Avni Aker stadium on Wednesday evening.

Early efforts from Seydou Doumbia and Wagner Love went close for the visitors, but they had to settle for a point after the Ivorian was sent off for two bookable offences.

Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game

Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets!

Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25

Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200

Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20!

Trabzonspor went into the game knowing that a win would put them in pole position for that elusive second qualification spot, behind group favourites Inter. And they did so by making two changes to the side that beat Gaziantepspor 1-0 at the weekend. Didier Zokora replaced Aykut Akgun in midfield, whilst top goalscorer Burak Yilmaz came in to make his Champions League début.

CSKA meanwhile were unchanged from the side that won 4-0 against Spartak Nalchik last Friday.

And it was the unchanged CSKA who started the brightest. Within the first two minutes, Ivorian hotshot, Doumbia, had taken the ball around Tolga Zengin in the Trabzonspor goal, but his weak effort was blocked on the line.

The former Young Boys striker was proving a real handful for the Trabzonspor defence, but it was his strike partner who had the next best effort of the half. A deep run from Vagner Love was not closed down by the Turkish side, and he hit a rasping shot from 30 yards out that only just missed the target.

Burak Yilmaz was providing some tireless running for the home side, but again, it was the Deadly Duo for CSKA that were supplying the half's best chances. This time, Love played a delicious through-ball for Doumbia who, from 18 yards, could only fire straight at the goalkeeper to take the sides back into the break at 0-0.

Senol Gunes' men started the second half with much more urgency, and again Burak Yilmaz was showing his worth to the side with committed and intelligent running, but it was the visitors who were creating all the chances, Tosic with a swivelling volley on 60 minutes that just evaded the far post.

Those missed chances very nearly cost CSKA 10 minutes later as substitute Alanzinho skipped past Vasili Berezutski, but his shot was easily saved by Gabulov, who was made to work for the first time in the evening.

Things were made somewhat harder for the Russians with 15 minutes remaining as Doumbia was sent off for a second yellow card, but Leonid Slutskiy's men held out for the draw.

That point means both teams go into their next set of games on five points. CSKA host Lille, while Trabzonspor, who are also at home, play Inter.