Axel Witsel returned to Estadio Da Luz along with Ezequiel Garay and Javi Garcia as Zenit travelled to Portugal to face Lisbon Club Benfica for the first game of UEFA’s Champions League Group C.
Russians were dominant during the first minutes continuously a threat to Artur’s posts. Shatov was looking at Benfica’s defence through a microscope serving through passes, as one of them reached Hulk who delicately lobbed the ball into Artur’s right corner; 0-1 to Zenit after only five minutes of game-play. Ezequiel Garay almost froze Lisbon six minutes later as Hulk’s powerful free kick was blocked and the Argentinian’s rebound was unsuccessful.
Zenit was outstanding, reaching Benfica’s box easily and the night was promising for Villas Boas’ team. It was the 17th minute that made life harder for the Portuguese club, as Shatov served another through pass to Danny, who passed Artur and the Brazilian keeper brought him down at the end of his box; referee Moen shows the red card leaving the hosts down to ten men.
As if that wasn’t enough, Axel Witsel doubled Zenit’s goals with a front-post header at the 22’ minute with keeper Paulo Lopes unable to prevent the ball from crossing the line and the Belgian midfielder not celebrating his goal against his former club. The fate of the game was decided in the first half as The Eagles of Lisbon were one man short, two goals behind and unable to break Zenit’s great defending.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Benfica created chances as Lima’s and Luisao’s efforts were stopped by an alert Yuri Lodygin, saying no to any hopes they might had for turning the game around. Oleg Shatov served once again to Hulk whose shot was stopped at Lopes’ post and Salomon Rodon, turning 25, couldn’t celebrate his birthday with a goal, missing the one-on-one.
FC Monaco, who earlier won 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen in France, visit St. Petersburg in two weeks for the second match-day of UEFA’s Champions League Group stage.
Stats and facts
• Benfica held a 51-match unbeaten home-run in all competitions until today.
• Villas Boas’ team become the first ever Russian club to defeat Benfica on home soil.
• Zenit are on a winning spree of 11 consecutive games.
• The Blue-White-Sky-Blues start with a victory in the Champions League Group stage for the first time in their history.
