Lorenzo Pellegrini grabbed what would turn out to be the winner for the Giallorossi just before the hour-mark, after Aron Sigurdsson had only just cancelled out Kostas Manolas's fourth-minute opener.

The result means a point from the final two games should be enough to see the Giallorossi into the last-16 of the competition.

It was Pellegrini who was arguably the architect of this victory; providing the delivery for Manolas's early header from a corner - before converting himself after Bryan Cristante found him free inside the box.

Prior to that CSKA had both equalised and then had a man sent off: Sigurdsson finding space inside the box to steer home... before his compatriot Magnusson was dismissed after a lunging late foul on Justin Kluivert.

Pellegrini then scored moments later, silencing the Luzhniki Stadium crowd - and ultimately putting Eusebio Di Francesco's side on the very of the Champions League knockout stages once again.

TEAM NEWS

Justin Kluivert and Bryan Cristante both came into the side for the game, as Alessandro Florenzi once again captained the side.

Manolas partnered Federico Fazio in the defence.

First half

4' - GOOOALLL!!! The ideal start! Roma win a corner, Pellegrini swings it in - and Manolas gets the touch to beat Akinfeev! 0-1!

18' - Vlasic gets a sight of goal, but drags his shot wide from 20 yards out.

29' - Good opening. Florenzi wins the ball back and feeds Kluivert. The winger uses Dzeko's run as a diversion before slipping the ball back to Florenzi inside the box... but the ball gets stuck under his feet and the chance goes begging!

31' - Another chance! Kolarov's long-range free-kick is parried away by Akinfeev; Dzeko pounces on the loose ball but fires over from a tight angle!

34' - At the near post, Cristante meets Kolarov's free-kick from wide on the left - but his header is narrowly wide.

40' - Let-off for Roma. A slick passing move plays in Oblyakov - Manolas does brilliantly to block his shot but the ball loops up kindly for substitute Schennikov - who heads over with the goal gaping!

Second half

51' - Goal. CSKA equalise. Sigurdsson converts from inside the box. 1-1.

55' - Kolarov hits a free-kick from a dangerous position, but his shot is always curling away from Akinfeev's near post.

56' - Red card for CSKA! Magnusson brings down Kluivert as the last man and, while the referee only shows a yellow card for that offence, it is the second of the game for the defender!

57' - This time Kolarov plants his free-kick on target, but it is comfortable for Akinfeev to save and hold.

59' - GOAL! Get in! Cristante feeds the ball in to Pellegrini, who gets it under control inside the box before slotting his shot under Akinfeev and home! 1-2!

62' - Chance for Roma! Great interplay between Kluivert and Dzeko sees the striker get open inside the box - but Akinfeev makes the stop!

67' - Fazio meets Pellegrini's inswinging free-kick inside the box, but plants his header narrowly wide!

75' - Dzeko meets Florenzi's cross, but heads over.

78' - Oblyakov gets a shot off from a dangerous position inside the box, but Olsen saves and holds.

84' - Almost an immediate impact from Zaniolo, who goes it alone after winning an aerial challenge before ultimately scuffing his shot wide.

KEY MATCH STATISTICS

SOCIAL REACTION

ROMA REACTION

"I think it was a lot harder out there on the pitch than it might have seemed from the outside. They're an excellent side who play good football. They show no fear and they caused problems for us at times. We've taken a big step towards qualification today.”

- Lorenzo Pellegrini

"I don't like it when my team settles for what we have. When you try to hold onto a lead you can end up conceding if you give the ball away cheaply. We had the potential and the ability to cause problems for them, as we showed at times. We're good at getting the ball forward quickly and we should have done it more often."

- Eusebio Di Francesco

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Giallorossi have one more game before the international break, as they host Sampdoria at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday.

Their next Champions League engagement comes after that temporary break; following an away trip to Udinese, the Giallorossi host Real Madrid at the Olimpico.