Bayer Leverkusen 2 - 2 CSKA Moscow - CSKA Moscow rally to grab a point at Bayer Leverkusen

Alan Dzagoev's superb 36th-minute strike sparked a fine comeback as CSKA Moscow grabbed a 2-2 draw with Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League Group E opener in Germany.

The Russians had been reeling when Admir Mehmedi and Hakan Calhanoglu struck in the opening 15 minutes to give the hosts a magnificent start.

But after Dzagoev rifled his opener past Leverkusen keeper Bernd Leno, team-mate Roman Eremenko followed up two minutes later to ensure the visitors were back on level terms before half-time.

Heading into the game off the back of a Bundesliga win over Hamburg, the hosts maintained their momentum by grabbing a ninth-minute lead when Mehmedi beat the CSKA offside trip to fire past Igor Akinfeev.

And shortly afterwards the hosts doubled their advantage when Calhanoglu picked up a neat pass from Kevin Kampl to bundle a deflected effort into the top corner.

The home side should have been out of sight before the interval with Akinfeev forced to make good stops from Julian Brandt and Wendell before an even better double save denied Mehmedi his second.

The visitors rode their luck and narrowed the deficit in stunning fashion when Dzagoev smashed a shot into the top corner after running onto a through-ball from Aleksey Ionov.

And four minutes later Eremenko levelled in slightly more fortunate fashion when he shot through the keeper's legs after being set up by Lacina Traore.

Leverkusen had the better of the chances early in the second half with Brandt mis-firing in front of goal then Kevin Volland failing to get any power on a shot which was easily saved by Akinfeev.