Alario fires off a venomous shot from a tight angle but it flies well over the bar.
90' +1
Three minutes of stoppage time are added on.
90'
L. Bender enters the game and replaces K. Demirbay.
Demirbay is replaced by Lars Bender as Bayer look to tighten their grip on this lead going into stoppage time.
89'
Lokomotiv work a clever short corner through to Aleksey Miranchuk who weaves his way into the box, before hammering a shot at the near post that Hradecky calmly pushes away for another corner.
87'
Demiraby orchestrates a swift counter-attack for the away side and initially they appear to have a four-on-three, however Rybus tracks back well and dispossesses Diaby just as the attacker enters the box.
83'
D. Barinov gets yellow.
Barinov is booked for a clumsy foul on Aranguiz as Lokomotiv's hopes continue to fade in this one.
81'
Rybus gallops forward from left-back, before spinning a cross towards the near post, that meets the head of Kulikov who glances it straight into Hradecky's grateful arms.
79'
Leverkusen almost break in behind the hosts again, but play is called back for Retsos' foul on Krychowiak near the centre-circle.
77'
F. Smolov enters the game and replaces Éder.
Wendell gets yellow.
L. Alario enters the game and replaces K. Bellarabi.
Alario comes on for Bellarabi to provide a more physical presence up top in a substitution that will most likely see Volland drop into a deeper, attacking-midfield role.
Wendell is booked for a high challenge on Kulikov that - on another day - could have received a harsher punishment.
Smolov - fresh from a spell out injured - replaces Eder up top for Lokomotiv.
Minute
Description
75'
Aleksey Miranchuk is still straining to try and find a way back for Lokomotiv and his latest attack culminates with an elegant dribble past Bender before tripping at the vital moment, just as he was about slip Anton Miranchuk through on goal.
73'
Aleksey Miranchuk curls a delightful lofted throughball towards Eder and for a moment it looks as though the striker's clean through on goal. However, Tah recovers exceptionally well and he tracks back to slide in and divert Eder's shot harmlessly into Hradecky's grasp.
71'
At the midway point in the second half, it's safe to say it's been a notably different game compared to the first 45. Lokomotiv have been nullified going forward (with both Miranchuk twins silenced after a dangerous opening period) while Leverkusen themselves have looked more confident and adventurous in possession.
69'
Bender attempts another flamboyant volley after latching onto a header from a free-kick, but his acrobatic effort loops safely over the bar.
67'
V. Ćorluka gets yellow.
V. Ignatyev gets yellow.
Ignatjev is booked for a late challenge on Diaby inside the Leverkusen half.
Lokomotiv's frustration is beginning to show as Corluka is booked for a late lunge on Volland.
66'
Lokomotiv almost break away with a series of neat passes, however Krychowiak's final ball through to Eder is miscued and slices skywards where Bender can safely nod it away from harm.
65'
D. Kulikov enters the game and replaces R. Zhemaletdinov.
Zhemaletdinov is replaced by Kulikov as Lokomotiv search for a spark to get back into this game.
62'
Lokomotiv finally break free from the continuous spell of Leverkusen dominance, as Eder zooms in behind the away side's defence and onto a threaded pass, but the offside flag goes up and the hosts are put under pressure once more.
58'
Diaby races in behind Ignatjev again before driving in a low cross that Howedes does brilliantly to get to before Volland and clear five yards from goal.
56'
Lokomotiv have it all to do to try and stay in the Champions League now. Leverkusen have looked electric in this half and it'll take a huge effort to overturn this two-goal advantage.
54'
S. Bender has scored a goal for Bayer Leverkusen! Assist by C. Aránguiz.
STUNNING STRIKE FROM BENDER! 2-0! That's a huge goal for Leverkusen and what a moment for Bender to get his first goal in two years! Lokomotiv clear a free-kick to the edge of the area, where Aranguiz elegantly dinks a pass over Ignatjev before Bender latches onto the pass to lash a volley across Guilherme and into the far top right corner!
Aranguiz was wasteful moments before, but this time he selflessly lobs an outrageous throughball to Bender who finished spectacularly with his left foot from a tight angle!
53'
Zhemaletdinov cheaply gives away possession to Aranguiz inside his own half and the midielder drives forward and - with plenty of options available - he elects to drive alone and he loses out to Howedes.
51'
Despite the removal of Bailey, Leverkusen have started this half positively - their latest foray forward ends with Howedes just managing to repel Diaby as he shimmied into the box.
49'
Bellarabi sets up Demirbay for a shot on the edge of the box, but the midfielder miscues his effort and it dribbles well wide of the target.
46'
J. Baumgartlinger enters the game and replaces L. Bailey.
Bailey is replaced by Baumgartlinger in a defensive switch for Leverkusen to begin the half.
Lokomotiv get the second period underway.
45' +2
HALF TIME: Lokomotiv Moscow 0-1 Bayer Leverkusen
45'
Two minutes of stoppage time are added on.
44'
The away side quickly break again and Diaby and Bailey link up with a neat interchange on the left flank, before the former wastefully blazes a cross into the box that's too high for everyone.
42'
B. Höwedes gets yellow.
Howedes cynically trips Diaby on the halfway line and earns a yellow card for his trouble.
39'
Bayer slalom forward through Bailey before creating a sweeping move across the pitch that culminates with Bellarabi hitting a first-time half-volley a couple of yards wide from 18 yards.
35'
Leverkusen are trying to settle the game down with a series of short passes around the back four, after the match opened up into more an end-to-end affair over the last ten minutes.
31'
Wendell hauls Eder down in a dangerous position 30 yards from goal, where Aleksey Miranchuk whips in a devious free-kick that deflects off Aranguiz and just over the bar.
29'
Krychowiak fires another pass into Eder's feet, but Bender learns from the previous move and steps in quickly to reach it before the striker and clear.
27'
That close opportunity has livened the home fans up now! They're raucously urging their team forward whenever they win possession back at the moment.
23'
Barinov attempts to clip a pass out towards Rybus on the left-wing but it's ever so slightly overhit. The hosts still look uncomfortable after conceding and are trying to regain their fluency.
21'
Leverkusen push hesitantly up the pitch before Diaby - sensing a lack of options - cracks off a shot from 30 yards that trickles straight at Guilherme.
19'
Lokomotiv are also a team that look more comfortable counter-attacking than controlling the tempo of a game. They'll have to take the initiative now though and this'll be a tricky hurdle to overcome.
17'
Volland appears to have moved up top for the away side, with Bailey now being deployed on the wing as Leverkusen look to exploit his pace on the counter-attack.
15'
Well, it was a freak goal and it was against the run of play, but Leverkusen will be thrilled with this start. They would have been hoping merely to keep the game tight in the opening stages, so Zhemaletdinov's own goal will be a welcome surprise.
11'
R. Zhemaletdinov is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
LEVERKUSEN TAKE THE LEAD! 1-0! What a bizarre goal! The away side win their first corner of the game and Bailey swings it in towards the six-yard box, where Bender initially glances a weak header towards goal before Eder wildly hacks the ball straight into Zhemaletdinov - who's standing two yards away in the crowded box - creating a ricochet straight into the top corner!
3'
Anton Miranchuk jinks past Wendell down the left flank, forcing Tah to race across to clear the danger.
2'
The away side begin with a patient spell of possession as they attempt to settle into this crucial game.
1'
Leverkusen get the first period underway.
Hello and welcome to live commentary of this Champions League Group D fixture between Lokomotiv Moscow and Bayer Leverkusen. Both sides sit at the foot of the table with just three points from four games, with Atletico Madrid ahead in second place on seven points and Juventus out in front with a hefty ten points. Naturally, the table takes on a bleak appearance but there’s still plenty riding on what will be a critical game for both teams. For a start, Atletico face an incredibly difficult trip to Turin today meaning that three points here could move the victors just a point off second place - and qualification for the last 16 - heading into the final match week. Failing that, even if Atletico win and essentially knock both sides out, the winners in Russia will have still put themselves into a commanding position for third place – and qualification for the Europa League knockout rounds.
SUBS: Daniil Kulikov, Brian Idowu, Solomon Kvirkvelia, Murilo Cerqueira, Aleksandr Kolomeytsev, Anton Kochenkov, Fedor Smolov.
SUBS: Lars Bender, Lucas Alario, Julian Baumgartlinger, Aleksandar Dragovic, Niklas Lomb, Paulinho, Ramazan Ozcan.
LEVERKUSEN (4-2-3-1): Lukas Hradecky; Panagiotis Retsos, Jonathan Tah, Sven Bender, Wendell; Kerem Demirbay, Charles Aranguiz; Karim Bellarabi, Kevin Volland, Moussa Diaby; Leon Bailey.
Lokomotiv make two changes from the side that collected a 2-0 victory over Tambov on Friday with Kolomeytsev and Cerqueira both dropping out. More importantly though, they move from an expansive 4-3-3 into a more compact 4-4-1-1 formation in anticipation of a tighter game. Leverkusen also make two changes, with Amiri and Weiser both not making the squad after starting at the weekend – their formation remains unchanged though.
The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is seconds away!
LOKOMOTIV (4-4-1-1): Guilherme; Vladislav Ignatjev, Benedikt Howedes, Vedran Corluka, Maciej Rybus; Rifat Zhemaletdinov, Gregorz Krychowiak, Dimitri Barinov, Anton Miranchuk; Alecksey Miranchuk; Eder.
Lokomotiv will surely have to commit more and more players forward the longer this scoreline remains the same and this could lead to an entertaining, breathless second 45.
The result means that at worst Leverkusen will now qualify for the Europa League owing to their head to head record over Lokomotiv, while they also move just one point behind Atletico who play later today. For Lokomotiv, they can now only finish fourth in Group D and will look back ruefully on a plethora of tight games that haven't gone in their favour during the campaign.
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