Real Madrid seemed set for a straightforward victory as they dominated the opening stages, but CSKA Moscow were 2-0 up by half-time thanks to well-taken goals by Fedor Chalov and Georgi Schennikov. The expected fightback never really materialised, with young Icelander Arnor Sigurdsson netting a third for a victory for the Russian side as surprising as it was well deserved.
Positives
The only positive from the night for Madrid was that they had already secured top spot in the group before kickoff, so the main lasting damage from the biggest ever home defeat in UEFA competition is to the club's pride.
Negatives
Pride is very important at the Bernabeu. There were loud whistles at both half-time and full-time, which suggested fans -- and probably president Florentino Perez -- do not take kindly to such a humiliation at any point. Senior players including Marcelo and Isco had absolute shockers.
Manager rating out of 10
5 -- Issues within the team and squad that Santiago Solari had been able to paper over previously, through a mixture of good luck and good judgement, were severely punished. The result should act as a necessary reminder that both coach and president have a lot of work to do if this season is to be really turned around.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Thibaut Courtois, 7 -- Could do nothing about any of the CSKA goals, and indeed things could have been even worse but for the Belgium international parrying on-loan-from-Everton winger Nikola Vlasic's second-half piledriver.
DF Alvaro Odriozola, 6 -- Always offered an outlet down the right wing and as usual did well in attack. But not so prominent on the cover when his even-younger centre-backs needed helping out.
DF Jesus Vallejo, 6 -- Started well with some towering headers from the back, and not directly responsible for any of the goals, but suffered along with the rest of the back four when CSKA realised they could be quite easily got at.
DF Javi Sanchez, 5 -- Pretty badly at fault for both CSKA's first-half goals, with the Russian league's top scorer Chalov giving the 21-year-old a real schooling on his Champions League debut.
DF Marcelo, 4 -- Back after injury absence as the senior member of the back four, but that was not a positive for Madrid as he was chasing shadows and/or ball-watching as all three CSKA goals originated down his side.
MF Isco, 5 -- Another frustrating showing from the woefully out-of-form playmaker, with his pure talent often evident but overshadowed by more than questionable decision-making. Worst moment came when Vinicius set him free in the CSKA box, but he took too long and then dragged a shot wide. One of those who bore the brunt of fans' frustration.
MF Marcos Llorente, 6 -- Missed a tackle in the build-up to CSKA's opener, ending a run of 453 minutes without the team conceding with him on the pitch. That one lapse only underlines how important he has become to team's current run.
MF Fede Valverde, 6 -- The youngster was not directly to blame for what went wrong, but also did not manage to put his mark on the game at all. Hit the target with a deflected driven 30-yarder down 0-2.
FW Marco Asensio, 6 -- Looked really good when Madrid were on top with three chances to open the scoring, coming closest when clipping the crossbar with a curler from a tight angle. But unable to turn the momentum his side's way when it was required.
FW Karim Benzema, 6 -- The senior member of attack linked well with Vinicius and Asensio as Madrid dominated the opening half hour, without rousing himself enough to actually put his team ahead.
FW Vinicius Jr., 7 -- Madrid's third-youngest-ever Champions League starter was their best attacker through the 90 minutes, demanding the ball from teammates and putting his individual skills to the use of the collective -- which is not a good look for Benzema, Gareth Bale & Co.
Substitutes
FW Gareth Bale, 7 -- Replaced Benzema at the break in what looked a pre-planned switch, and almost immediately picked up an injury that hampered the rest of his game.
MF Toni Kroos, 6 -- On for Llorente near the hour mark, he looked to be over a recent knee injury, but could do little about the result.
DF Dani Carvajal, N/R -- Sent on for Marcelo just after CSKA's third goal in a substitution that looked at the time like a (risky) public message to the Brazilian, an influential dressing-room figure.