Football News

Zenit came into this game knowing that if they failed to win, a victory for Real Madrid later in the night would eliminate them from the Champions League. Coach Dick Advocaat was without Lee Ho due to injury, and defender Sébastien Puygrenier, who was serving a one-match ban following his red card on Matchday 4. Russian stars Pavel Pogrebnyak and Andrei Arshavin led the frontline, supported by Portuguese international Danny.

Juventus were already qualified for the last 16 after obtaining six points out of six against Real Madrid. A draw in this game would see them finish top of the group. Claudio Ranieri’s side was still decimated by injuries, as Jorge Andrade, Cristiano Zanetti, Jonathan Zebina, Gianluigi Buffon, David Trezeguet, Christian Poulsen, Dario Knežević, and Tiago were sidelined. Mauro Camoranesi began from the start on the right of midfield, while Vincenzo Iaquinta replaced Amauri as Alessandro Del Piero's partner in attack.

First Half

Juventus had the first chance of the game after just 90 seconds, as Vincenzo Iaquinta rose unmarked in the box to meet a Camoranesi free kick, but he could not keep his header down.

The Bianconeri were looking particularly dangerous from set-pieces and, from another Camoranesi dead-ball on nine minutes, Olof Mellberg crashed a header from six yards against the outside of the post.

Zenit threatened for the first time on 16 minutes when Pogrebnyak raced through behind the Juve defence, but Giorgio Chiellini got back to make a fantastic last gasp tackle. Moments later Pogrebnyak lashed a 30-yard free kick over the bar.

The home side were warming up now, and Konstantin Zyrianov cracked a right-foot volley on target, but Alex Manninger was equal to the effort.

However, midway through the half Juventus were centimetres away from taking the lead, as they struck the woodwork for a second time. Cristian Molinaro cut the ball back for Iaquinta, who directed the ball onto the post. Camoranesi could then only shoot wide from the eventual rebound.

The Argentine-born winger was getting into some promising positions, and on 32 minutes he darted in at the back post on a raking pass, but he was stretching and couldn't make decent contact. Pavel Nedved's dangerous near post cross was then plucked out of the near post by goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeev.

Zenit had their first serious shot of the game in the 39th minute as Anatoliy Tymoshuk forced Manninger into a low save with a 20-yard free kick. Ivica Krizanac then saw a goal disallowed for offside, as the sides went in goalless at the break.

Second Half

Juventus came flying out of the blocks in the second half, and Del Piero almost scored immediately as he chest down Grygera's centre and lashed a volley towards goal, which was excellently saved by Malafeev. The ball then pinballed around the area, before Nedved fired over.

Danny burst into life on 50 minutes with a run and shot that was smartly saved by Manninger, before Pogrebnyak headed harmlessly wide at the back host.

Del Piero, who was improving after a quiet first half, curled a free kick straight at Malafeev before then testing the goalkeeper again from 20 yards.

However, on 54 minutes, The Golden Boy was guilty of a glaring miss to put his side ahead. Iaquinta cut the ball back into the area, but with the goal gaping Del Piero somehow fired the ball wide.

Zenit were not playing well, but on 65 minutes they created a gilt-edged opportunity as Molinaro gave the ball away carelessly, which eventually allowed Danny a clean run on goal, but he delayed his shot too long and allowed Claudio Marchisio to make a tackle. Seconds later Pogrebnyak crashed an unstoppable long shot against the post with Manninger completely beaten.

Del Piero had scored a brilliant free kick when these two sides met in Turin in September, but he was struggling to repeat the trick tonight, and with 13 minutes remaining he shot weakly at Malafeev. Substitute Sebastian Giovinco then replaced the captain.

Danny had been Zenit's most dangerous player in the second half, and with seven minutes remaining he almost toe-poked the home side into the lead, but the ball trickled inches wide of the far post. Nicolas Lombaerts then couldn't make the most of a scramble in the Italian box.

The game finished goalless, and Zenit's hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages now hang by a thread. If Real Madrid beat BATE tonight, they will be eliminated. Juventus now look odds-on to finish top of Group H.

Teams

Zenit: Malafeev, Anyukov, Krizanac, Lombaerts, Sirl, Denisov, Tymoschuk, Zyrianov, Danny, Arshavin (Fayzulin 70), Pogrebnyak

Juventus: Manninger, Grygera, Mellberg, Chiellini, Molinaro, Camoranesi (Marchionni 83), Sissoko, Marchisio, Nedved, Del Piero (Giovinco 77), Iaquinta (Amauri 86)