CSKA Reminds Real Madrid How Tough It Is to Invade Russia

Who thought this would happen?

Not Real Madrid getting stuffed, 1-0, in Champions League play at the hands of CSKA Moscow.

It's the winning side's 'keeper getting the gate for bitching in injury time. Two yellows. In succession.

Dude was either ballsy or brain dead, and definitely lucky it didn't come back to bite his mates in the patootie.

 

Los Blancos didn't do themselves any favors, either.

In fact, CSKA was gifted the game's only goal on a Real mental miscue. In the first minute, Toni Kroos blithly sent a backpass in the general direction of Raphaël Varane. It wound up being a perfect pass to Nikola Vlašić.

The Croatian slotted home on the right corner beyond the reach of Keylor Navas. From there, every picture tells a story:

 

Igor Akinfeev is a genuine national hero for his World Cup performance this past summer, but privileges only go so far.

Now, he'll have to wait for word on the length of his suspension.

 

Here's how Group G is taking shape:

As with the early stages of Group E, the fall of a pool favorite leaves nothing for granted.

Unless Real figures it out, absolutely nothing's a given, too.