VfL Wolfsburg threw down the gauntlet to Group B favourites Manchester United before their Old Trafford clash in a fortnight with a 1-0 win over CSKA Moscow on Wednesday.

Germany midfielder Julian Draxler scored his first goal for his new club as Wolfsburg marked their return to the Champions League after a six year absence with a win over the same side they beat 3-1 on their competition debut back in September 2009.

Wolfsburg face United away in their next Champions League fixture on September 30 as Louis van Gaal's side lost 2-1 at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday to leave the Dutch champions top of the group.

The win over Moscow left Wolfsburg second in the table to Eindhoven on goal difference.

This was an impressive display from Draxler, who ran the German's midfield on only his second appearance for Wolfsburg.

The 21-year-old opened the scoring on 40 minutes as he proved why Wolves paid Schalke 36 million euros (US40.58 million) for his services.

Playing in the attacking midfield role vacated by Kevin de Bruyne's record transfer to Manchester City, Draxler finished off the move he started.

After his pass found Max Kruse in space on the right wing, Draxler powered his header at Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, but was first to react and stabbed home the rebound.

It was no more than the hosts deserved after right winger Daniel Caligiuri had wasted a superb chance just moments before when he took too long with his shot having got in behind the defence.

Russian league leaders Moscow had little to offer and Nigeria forward Ahmed Musa was their biggest threat up front, while Serbia left winger Zoran Tosic forced Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio into a diving save with 20 minutes to go.

Wolfsburg needed a second goal to make sure of the three points, but the Moscow defence kept frustrating the German Cup winners.

Caligiuri had a late chance charged down while his replacement France international Josuha Guilavogui failed to connect a cross with the goal at his mercy.

The hosts deserved their win with 21 shots on goal compared to Moscow's eight.