Bayer Leverkusen 2-2 CSKA Moscow: Germans held after blistering start

 CSKA Moscow fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League Group E opener, avoiding defeat in Germany for the first time.

Leverkusen had been cruising after scoring twice in the first 15 minutes through Admir Mehmedi and Hakan Calhanoglu as CSKA struggled to keep pace.

But after Igor Akinfeev had made a vital save from Mehmedi, the visitors countered with two strikes in the space of 123 seconds.

Alan Dzagoev's wonderful effort gave the Russian side hope before Roman Eremenko squeezed a finish through Bernd Leno to draw the visitors level before half-time and stun a previously jubilant Leverkusen crowd.

The hosts are now unbeaten in eight European home matches, but paid for their profligacy and saw captain Lars Bender withdrawn through injury in a further blow.

While CSKA have conceded just once in the Russian Premier League this season, it was a ruthlessness in attack that bailed them out in this clash as they recovered from the hosts' lightning start.