Eliminated from Europa League’s semifinals from a late Sevilla goal at Petrovsky stadium three days earlier, Zenit turned their efforts into the only title left to fight for; the Russian League.
With five games left and Krasnodar reaching to a -5 from Zenit, Arsenal Tula visited St. Petersburg while Villas Boas’ goal was to secure the title as early as possible.
Attacking early, as usually happens at home, Danny and Witsel had the first good chances after ten minutes.
The Belgian midfielder’s shot went wide from a close range but that wasn’t the case on his second chance, as Danny won and delivered a foul kick from the left, with Axel’s header sending the ball to rest on the far left side of an unable-to-react Mucha; 1-0 for Zenit.
Hulk’s double long-range foul kicks were the only two good chances, (one blocked by Mucha and the other going wide), as teams withdrew for half time.
Tula’s game got tougher by the minute (21 fouls total) but they reached Lodygin’s box easier, creating chances, while other Belgian Nico Lombaerts failed twice to beat Mucha (close range shot and header both blocked).
Nothing changed for the remaining minutes as Axel’s goal gave three crucial points to Zenit, who visit Moscow in one week’s time in a game against Spartak, that will possibly seal Zenit as champions, should the Blue White Sky blues escape with a win.
Table standings
1 Zenit 59
2 FC Krasnodar 51
3 CSKA Moscow 47
4 Dinamo Moscow 44
