Leipzig beats Zenit 2-0 in Champions League

By: The Associated Press Posted: 2:00 PM CST Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 Last Modified: 4:20 PM CST Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Leipzig beat Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, moving to the verge of qualifying from the group stage for the first time.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia - Leipzig beat Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, moving to the verge of qualifying from the group stage for the first time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/11/2019 (2487 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia – Leipzig beat Zenit St. Petersburg 2-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday, moving to the verge of qualifying from the group stage for the first time.

Star forward Timo Werner had scored five goals and assisted five more in Leipzig’s previous two games, but was only used as a substitute in Russia as his teammates took their chance to shine.

“It was great to see the way we outplayed our opponent,” Leipzig coach Julian Nagelsmann said. “We dominated the game and deservedly took the three points. We have at least one more step to go but we want to win both of our remaining games.”

Leipzig's Diego Demme, right, celebrates with teammate Leipzig's Emil Forsberg after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League group G soccer match between Zenit St. Petersburg and RB Leipzig at the Saint Petersburg stadium in St.Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Leipzig’s Marcel Halstenberg thought he’d scored in the 14th minute with a deflected shot, but it was disallowed after video review of a handball in the build-up.

The breakthrough came with the last kick of the first half as Diego Demme hammered in a rebound after Marcel Sabitzer’s free kick hit the wall.

Zenit started to play higher up the field and was exposed in the 63rd when Emil Forsberg played Sabitzer in with a through ball. The Austrian sent goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov sprawling and finished calmly to score Leipzig’s second goal.

Freezing temperatures and snow in St. Petersburg meant the game was played with the Gazprom Arena’s roof closed.

Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulasci, playing his 150th game for the club, made two good saves to stop Sardar Azmoun on counterattacks, but otherwise the defensively-minded Russian club lacked creativity. Nagelsmann said he was surprised how deep Zenit set its defensive line.

The German club’s third win leaves it top of Group G with nine points and able to secure qualification for the knockout stages for the first time with a win against Benfica on Nov. 27. Lyon is second on seven points after beating last-placed Benfica 3-1 in Tuesday’s other game.