Zenit made a sensational start to Group D with a 4-3 comeback success in Israel, but will be hoping for a less stressful evening as they welcome AZ Alkmaar on matchday two.
Fresh from one of the greatest comeback wins in UEFA club competition history, Zenit will look to make rather lighter work of AZ Alkmaar in UEFA Europa League Group D.
Previous meetings
• Ari’s sending-off for the visitors helped Dick Advocaat’s Zenit fight back to hold Louis van Gaal’s AZ to a 1-1 draw in Russia in the clubs’ only previous meeting, in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup group stage.
• The teams for that game on 25 October 2007 were:
Zenit: Čontofalský, Ding-Jin, Lombaerts*, Škrtel, Anyukov*, Šírl, Tymoshchuk, Zyryanov, Domínguez (Maksimov 81), Arshavin, Fatih Tekke.
AZ: Waterman, Koenders, Jaliens, Donk, Opdam, Mendes (El Hamdaoui 59), Cziommer (Medunjanin 90+2), Agustien, Martens (Pocognoli 49), Dembélé, Ari.
*registered to play for the club in this season’s group stage
• Zenit’s record in five matches against Dutch sides is W3 D1 L1 (W2 D1 in St Petersburg); AZ’s record against Russian opponents reads W2 D2 L3 (D2 L2 in Russia).
