Zenit vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv – Zenit remain perfect in Europe

Zenit vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv – Zenit remain perfect in Europe

  • Aleksandr Kokorin keeps his goal scoring record alive.
  • Aleksandr Kerzhakov wraps it up for Zenit.
  • Zenit remain perfect in the group stage.

Zenit Saint Petersburg were never threatened by Maccabi Tel-Aviv on matchday 5 of the Europa League, as they secure their fifth victory in as many games.

Zenit vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Goals: 1-0 Kokorin (44’) 2-0 Kerzhakov (90′)

With Zenit having already qualified for the round of 32 Mircea Lucescu chose to juggle his line-up a bit starting the highly talented Serbian forward Luka Djordjević up front. The tactical changes to the squad were the most fascinating aspects of the game early on, as both teams struggled to establish a flow to the game. Both sides picked up the pace halfway trough the interval with Zenit having the real first chance of the game when Giuliano won the ball in the box, and spotted Róbert Mak the Slovakian’s shot curled over Pedrag Rajković’s goal, however. Then just before halftime Kokorin, who got on the end of a wonderful low cross by Mak, opened the scoring for Zenit Saint Petersburg.

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Both coaches made chances in halftime with Lucescu bringing on Artem Dzyuba, and Shota Arveladze introducing Yossi Benayoun, and Sagiv Yehezkel. Arveladze’s changes almost paid off when Yehezkel almost tied the game in the opening moments of the second interval with a low drive. Shortly after Yehezkel set up Benayoun in the box, but Zenit’s defence was able to collectively block the shot. Maccabi kept up the pressure in an attempt to collect a valuable point, and with five minutes to go Nosa Igiebor almost equalized the score with a header that just missed the net. Instead it was Zenit, who would score next, as Aleksandr Kerzhakov scored a thundering free kick in the final moments of the game.

Man of the Match

Aleksandr Kokorin scored his fourth goal in his fourth appearance in the Europa League this season. The 25-year-old continues to revive his career under head coach Mircea Lucescu.

Zenit vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv – Talking Point

This might have been the last European match in the old Petrovsky Stadium, as it is expected that the much delayed Zenit Arena will be finished over the winter break. In that case Zenit have given the 91-year-old Petrovsky Stadium a wonderful send off.

Zenit vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv – Match Stats

  • Kokorin has now scored in every Europa League game this season.
  • Like last season Zenit win their first five games in the group stage of a European competition.
  • Kerzhakov scores his first Europa League goal this season.

Line-ups

Lodygin – Zhirkov (Lombaerts 74’), Criscito, Novoseltsev, Neto – Javi García, Witsel, Giuliano – Mak, Djordević (Dzyuba 45’), Kokorin (Kerzhakov 65’)

Coach: Mircea Lucescu

Rajikovic – Dasa, Tibi, Filipenko, Ben Harush – Scarione (Benayoun 45’), Golasa, Medunjanin (Peretz 81’), Igiebor – Ben Basat, Ben Chaim (Yehezkel 45’)

Coach: Shota Arveladze

By Manuel Veth –

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