CSKA shrug off cocaine ban to win at last

Bulgarian midfielder Georgi Milanov scored the only goal in a 1-0 win that lifted the Red Army side into third, six points off leaders Spartak Moscow, who take on Amkar Perm on Sunday. 

Eremenko was handed the lengthy ban by UEFA hours earlier after testing positive for cocaine following a Champions League match in September.

The 29-year midfielder was provisionally suspended last month and UEFA subsequently slapped him with the ban, although CSKA immediately announced they would appeal.

CSKA turned their focus back to the Russian league, starting in lively fashion with Swedish midfielder Pontus Wernbloom hitting the woodwork within the first minute.

Milanov put the Muscovites ahead with a free-kick on 21 minutes and Wernbloom had a chance to increase CSKA's lead in the 32nd, only to send the ball wide with a 15-yard header just inches off the right post.

After the interval the hosts poured into attack but defender Ivan Yershov's shot from just inside the area was confidently stopped by CSKA goalie Igor Akinfeev in the 58th minute.

Earlier, last season's surprise runners-up Rostov played out a goalless draw at two-time former champions Rubin Kazan.