Zvezda get the better of Brøndby

Winning run
The Danish side are one of the most experienced clubs in the history of the competition but although they led early tonight, they were behind at half-time and an equaliser was trumped by two further goals from the Russian side. Zvezda stormed through the two qualifying rounds with six straight wins and 22 goals scored to one conceded; they now look in good shape to extend that run after the second leg next Thursday in Kazan.

Timely goals
Two-time semi-finalists Brøndby took a sixth-minute lead through Tanja Christensen and seemed to be heading into the interval in front. However, Natalia Barbashina levelled the scores with seven minutes to go before the break and Vera Djatel shot Zvezda into a lead on the stroke of half-time. It did not take Maiken Pape long after the restart to level, but her side fell behind again on the hour mark to Nataliya Zinchenko and Barbashina's strike two minutes from time leaves the Russian champions in control of the tie.