In the 2015-2016 season, Zenit's players successfully passed the group stage of the Champions League. In the first round of the playoffs, the Portuguese Benfica, familiar to the Russian fan, became the rivals of the footballers from the banks of the Neva.
There was no favorite in the confrontation between Benfica and Zenit: both clubs had equal chances of reaching the quarterfinals of the most prestigious club football tournament in the Old World. The final score of the first half of the match looked quite logical - a goalless draw was on the scoreboard, reflecting an equal game.
The first real dangerous moment of the meeting can be designated a quick attack of the Portuguese in the 18th minute, which ended with a strike by Pizi from a dangerous distance. The ball, to the delight of the Russian fans, did not find its way into the goal of Yuri Lodygin.
“Zenith” for the most part attacked with sharp passes from the depths to Artem Dziuba, who was playing on the verge of an offside position. But in the first half of the meeting, this did not bring its goalscoring results. On the contrary, the striker of the Russian national team was in an offside position three times.
In the 35th minute, the footballers of the St. Petersburg club got the right to a dangerous standard near the opponent's penalty area. The Hulk came up to the ball and shot tightly with the bottom past the wall. The ball passed not only the obstacle from the players, “Benfica”, but the goal itself.
The second half began with the hosts' attacks, but the first dangerous moment of the second half of the meeting arose at the gate of the Portuguese. Former player "Benfica" Witsel in the 52nd minute kissed the ball tightly from outside the penalty area. Julio Cesar rescued the Portuguese.
Until the seventieth minute, there was an equal game on the field. Gaitan's real scoring chance changed everything. The captain of the Portuguese from the most advantageous position at close range could not beat Yuri Lodygin. “Zenith” was frankly lucky in this moment. From the 70th minute, the Russian club clearly got hooked physically (the players were not in the best shape at the time of the first official game of the spring stage).
The end of the meeting came in the 90th minute. Dominico Criscito received a second yellow card and was sent off. After the free kick assigned for the foul, a cross serve followed. The most agile in the fight was Jonatas, who upset all Russian fans. “Zenith” missed the ball already in stoppage time.
The final score of the match “Benfica” - “Zenith” leaves a chance for the St. Petersburg team to reach the next stage, but for this “Zenith” will need to beat “Benfica” in the second leg with a difference of two goals.
