Zenit brought the difference back down to three points after Spartak’s loss in Samara three days ago with the tough away game in Rostov being the last in the league before the winter break.
A balanced first half lead into a goalless draw as both teams couldn’t score the opener, with Dzyuba’s chance being the best, missing from a very close range to put Zenit up front on Axel’s second game as captain.
Nothing changed in the second half, in a game with many fouls, and the two teams shared a point each on the Russian league’s last game for 2016.
