Zenit visited Moscow to face local Lokomotiv for the sixth day of the Russian Premier League in the first derby for the new season.
A very balanced first half went on Lokomotiv stadium with good football from both teams. First chances belonged to Zenit
as Hulk’s free kick shot did not find the target and Axel Witsel’s close header was blocked by Abaev.
Lokomotiv gained more ground with Pavlyuchenko being the main source of danger testing Lodygin’s reflexes first (21′) and
missing from a very close range three minutes later.
The game got tougher with Lokomotiv’s defenders getting two yellow cards in seven minutes as Zenit was easily reaching
Abaev’s box. Witsel dribbled two defenders but his shot was wide and Hulk missed as Shatov pierced Lokomotiv’s defence from the left, passing to the Brazilian with his shot going wide over the posts; No goals for first half.
It didn’t take much time for Javi Garcia to show his quality in Russia and at the 60th minute Danny’s corner found Lombaerts, the Belgian’s header found the Spaniard and with a close range shot he gave the lead to Zenit, 0-1.
Lokomotiv couldn’t reach Lodygin’s posts due to Zenit’s excellent defending and Rondon who was introduced minutes before
the final whistle, lost the tet-a-tet as his shot hit the side-net.
Zenit have a total 6/6 in the Russian Premier League and remain unbeaten in the first place with 18 points.
