Zenit will finish first in UEFA Champions League Group H after recording their fifth win in as many outings, a goal in each half from Oleg Shatov and Artem Dzyuba proving enough to defeat Valencia.
Having booked their round of 16 place with victory at Lyon three weeks ago, Zenit again began brightly with Hulk – provider of three goals and four assists in the first four matches – particularly lively. From his pass Domenico Criscito dribbled in from the left and his deflected cross needed José Gayà’s clearing header off the goalline.
Valencia’s reprieve was brief, with Hulk again at the heart of the move that led to the 15th-minute breakthrough. The Brazilian cut in from the left and forced the ball through to Dzyuba; one slipped pass later, Shatov was clipping the ball past Jaume Doménech.
The visitors struggled to respond, but could have drawn level twice shortly before the break – Paco Alcácer passing up two presentable openings. First the striker got ahead of the Zenit defence to meet Sofiane Feghouli’s cross only to head wide, before shooting weakly from a Daniel Parejo pass.
Valencia were unable to create similarly clear openings as the second half unfolded, Feghouli’s flicked header from an André Gomes free-kick the closest they came before Zenit doubled their lead with another slick move 14 minutes from time. Danny played the ball into Oleg Shatov and raced on to the return to unselfishly square for Dzyuba to tap in.
The home team remained hungry for more goals, and only a last-ditch sliding tackle from Rúben Vezo prevented Shatov breaking clear – at the considerable cost of a red card for the Valencia man. Zenit might have increased their margin of victory in the closing stages, but had already clinched the points.
