UEFA Europa League

Misimovic hits leveller for Wolfsburg

RonnyHartmann/GettyImages

Obafemi Martins holds off Cesar Navas

Scoring Summary

FK Rubin Kazan	VfL Wolfsburg
Cristian Noboa (29')	Zvjezdan Misimovic (67')

Match Stats

FK Rubin Kazan

VfL Wolfsburg

11(4)	Shots (on Goal)	8(5)
13	Fouls	13
4	Corner Kicks	8
0	Offsides	3
50%	Time of Possession	50%
0	Yellow Cards	0
0	Red Cards	0
9	Saves	4

Teams

FK Rubin Kazan	VfL Wolfsburg
77 Sergei Ryzhikov	35 Marwin Hitz
4 César	17 Alexander Madlung
9 Lasha Salukvadze	20 Sascha Riether
3 Cristian Ansaldi	4 Marcel Schafer
22 Alexander Orehov	19 Peter Pekarik
61 Gokdeniz Karadeniz	10 Zvjezdan Misimovic
6 Macbeth Sibaya	7 Josué
88 Alan Kasaev	25 Christian Gentner
16 Cristian Noboa	13 Makoto Hasebe
99 Hasan Kabze	11 Obafemi Martins
11 Alexander Bukharov	9 Edin Dzeko
Substitutes
30 Yevgeni Cheremisin	Andre Lenz 12
65 Maxim Zhestokov	Fabian Johnson 16
32 Andrei Gorbanets	Daniel Reiche 33
42 Rafal Murawski	Julian Klamt 42
23 Evgeni Balyaikin	Thomas Kahlenberg 8
67 Davron Mirzaev	Sebastian Schindzielorz 32
97 Igor Portnyagin	Ashkan Dejagah 24
Substitutions
Rafal Murawski for Macbeth Sibaya (79)	Ashkan Dejagah for Obafemi Martins (83)
Evgeni Balyaikin for Gokdeniz Karadeniz (81)
Igor Portnyagin for Alan Kasaev (84)
· Squads: FK Rubin Kazan | VfL Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg's Zvjezdan Misimovic netted a crucial away goal as the German champions held Russian champions Rubin Kazan to a draw in tonight's Europa League round of 16 first-leg clash.

Cristian Noboa put the hosts in front after 29 minutes with a left-footed effort, but Misimovic pounced after 67 minutes, curling into the top corner following Edin Dzeko's lay-off.

The Wolves, who are out of the running to defend their Bundesliga crown, will now be favourites to progress in next week's second leg at the VW-Arena.

Reigning two-time Russian champions Rubin went into the game having not played a competitive match since clinching their most recent title before Christmas.

However, with the new season due to commence at the weekend, they were back up to speed and ready for the visit of the Wolves thanks to a 1-0 victory in the Russian Super Cup against CSKA Moscow last weekend.

Rubin's Macbeth Sibaya had an effort blocked by Sascha Riether before Dzeko had a shot saved by Sergei Ryzhikov at the other end.

Alexander Orehov headed Noboa's free-kick wide from 12 yards after 14 minutes and Sibaya and Alan Kasaev each shot over for Rubin Kazan.

Dzeko headed Misimovic's free-kick off target before the latter had an effort from 18 yards parried away by Ryzhikov.

Obafemi Martins shot over from 18 yards for Wolfsburg before the hosts took the lead.

Cristian Ansaldi's cross was headed back across goal by Hasan Kabze and Noboa found the net with a left-footed effort from 12 yards.

Gokdeniz Karadeniz went close to doubling the advantage two minutes later, but Hitz saved a shot from 18 yards.

Peter Pekarik fired wide from 18 yards and Christian Gentner had a right-footed shot from 25 yards tipped over by Ryzhikov as Wolfsburg pressed for an equaliser.

Alexander Bukharov shot off target from the edge of the area as Rubin's advantage remained at the interval.

Kabze then had an effort blocked early in the second period and Kasaev shot over from 18 yards soon after.

Rubin were soon indebted to goalkeeper Ryzhikov as he turned Misimovic's effort from the edge of the area around the post.

Bukharov shot wide at the other end before Ryzhikov denied Martins.

But Wolfsburg's pressure paid off when Dzeko and Misimovic combined for the latter to net into the top corner from just inside the box.

Ansaldi shot wide from long range shortly afterwards but Rubin could not find a winner.