Zenit-Juventus: 0-1 - Champions 2021/2022. Final result and commentary from the game

Back to the domestic front then for both sides - and talk about big games for both. Zenit have a clash with old rivals Spartak Moscow. As for Juventus? The small matter of a trip to San Siro to face the side who deposed them as Serie A champions, Inter. Until then, thank you for joining us - and have a good week!23:04

FULL-TIME: ZENIT 0-1 JUVENTUS22:54

Douglas Santos steps up to fire - and Ramsey gets the block in! It'll be a Zenit corner - but again, the visitors meet it at the first man, clear it downfield and that will be that!22:53

But is there a late twist in the game? Ramsey is deemed to have dragged back Krugovoy on the break and Zenit will have a free-kick while the Juve man is booked.22:52

Erokhin drags a header comfortably wide from distance and that is likely the final role of the dice for Zenit.22:51

Zenit win the corner late but that Bianconeri defence that has done the job it needed to throughout rises to the occasion again. The hosts push but each cross and delivery is diverted back beyond them.22:49

We are in for four added minutes here.22:48

Zenit make their fifth change now as Aleksandr Erokhin replaces Claudinho, moments before Chiesa shades a finish to the left of the goal.22:48

Zenit make their fourth change now as Daniil Krugovoy replaces Dmitriy Chistyakov.22:47

He was such a threat in that first half and De Sciglio has got his just reward with that touch. Spare a though for Zenit, very much as big a part of this match in drive and aplomb - but unless they can change something fast, the Juve man's well-lofted delivery is going to be the hilt of the knife against them.22:47

Juventus make their fifth change now as Aaron Ramsey replaces Rodrigo Bentancur.22:51

Oh, this could be a sad end for Claudinho's night - but no, fortunately the Zenit man is not as injured as badly as feared. He looks in genuine consternation with a niggle after a run, but seems OK to continue for this last stretch.22:45

Azmoun rumbles forward chasing a throughball but the final pass is weighted too heavily for him to reel back in before it runs dead for a goal-kick.22:39

There's 10 minutes on the clock for a winner in this one - and honestly, it is hard to pick which way it might come, if at all. These two sides have held one another at bay - if anything, they deserve a point each.22:40

Zenit’s Douglas Santos had created the joint-most chances from open play in the Champions League this season (8), along with Club Brugge’s Charles De Ketelaere. 22:38

Juventus make their fourth change now as Moise Kean replaces Alvaro Morata,22:34

Moments afterwards, Claudinho sticks another shot towards goal, and flashes it over the crossbar, again after seizing on the loose ball in midfield. He has been a dynamo today.22:33

Now McKennie! Juve cannot believe they are fluffing these chances. It is a lovely bit of head movement from the midfielder to meet the square cross though and his finish only just runs wide.22:31

Morata! Oh, the Juve striker has finished those before and he knows it too, skying a shot on the run as he bears down on a near-empty box. There's less than a quarter to run in this one.22:29

Zenit make their third change as Daler Kuzyaev replaces Malcom.22:27

Malcom has an issue and doesn't look to comfortable after going down in midfield. It could be the last act of the game for him.22:26

Moments after a Zenit corner, Claudinho - arguably the sharpest of the six forwards to start on both sides tonight - sees another effort blocked. He's looking pretty agitated by his failure to convert so far.22:24

Dzyuba has been directly involved in 13 goals for Zenit in the UEFA Champions League (nine goals and four assists), with only Hulk (18) managing more for the club in the competition.22:21

Zenit make their second change now as Aleksey Sutormin replaces Vyacheslav Karavaev.22:19

Zenit make their first change now as Sardar Azmoun replaces Artem Dzyuba.03:28

Arthur has hardly been on the pitch that long but he picks up a yellow for a particularly indulgent challenge now. Juventus need to watch their own temper as much as Zenit do.22:19

Juventus make their third change now as Arthur replaces Manuel Locatelli.22:17

Juventus make their second change now as Dejan Kulusevski replaces Federico Bernardeschi.22:17

Juventus make their first change now as Juan Cuadrado replaces Alex Sandro.22:17

Claudinho, once more! The Zenit man pushes a lovely looping finish in from the left, just lofting it beyond the right post as it comes back to earth.22:16

Massimiliano Allegri looks oddly pensive in between bursts of action here. He'd hope his Juve side would be a goal to the good by now but no crumpet.22:16

Almost a golden chance for Zenit now! The Russian outfit make the break, sweep down the centre-right channel and Szczesny helps see off chances for both Wendel and Claudinho.22:11

It's Kritsyuk versus McKennie - and the Zenit goalkeeper is the man who comes up trumps, just, as he deflects the ball almost buried in his net by the Juve midfielder. The Bianconeri look as threatening as ever.22:09

Locatelli drifts an attempt to the left now, as Juventus flex their muscles. They're getting back into the swing of things here.22:10

Zenit have a further flash of concern to deal with after Barrios struggles to regain his feet following an incident, but the midfielder is fortunately able to continue after a spot of light medical aid.22:06

The second half is only a few seconds old and already, Karavaev has been shown a yellow for a rash challenge on Chiesa. It's eager - too eager - and he pays the price for it.22:05

We are back underway for the second half in St Petersburg. Will it be Juve who carve out an opening here or will Zenit slip the result their way? 22:04

Following their victory over Malmo last time out, Zenit are looking to record consecutive victories in the Champions League for the first time since November 2015, when they won five in a row under Andre Villas-Boas.21:57

It's all square in St Petersburg - and there is nothing to split the hosts and the visitors across the first half of this Champions League clash. Juve have pushed but failed to convert - and Zenit haven't seized the chances they have had so far, with no score yet. At half-time, it is Zenit 0-0 Juventus.22:08

HALF-TIME: ZENIT 0-0 JUVENTUS21:47

Close - and for Zenit, no less! Having worked their way out of trouble and earned a surprise corner, Dzyuba comes close to powering a header from the set-piece past Szczesny. That would have been a turnabout twist.21:45

If this one is all square when it reaches half-time, there will be one side happier than the other. But there is the sense that Juve still have more to give in this one - the question is, do Zenit?21:45

My word, Chiesa let the wind whistle with that shot! The Juve man sprays a rocket of a finish across the face of goal, wide of the right post by a small if tidy margin. The visitors are pushing hard.22:08

Chiesa could do with getting his eye in but his latest shot is that little bit closer and little bit more concerning for Zenit. They haven't threatened too hard since that Claudinho crack early on.21:41

Alex Sandro with the shot! Juve sight a chance on goal following a corner but the finsish is far too wayward, wildly off-target for what the Bianconeri will want in this clash. A cheer comes up from the home crowd to accompany that one.21:38

Juventus are looking to win their opening three games of a UEFA Champions League campaign for the first time since 2018-19, which was the previous season in which Massimiliano Allegri managed them.21:35

Douglas Santos glances the subsequent free-kick away for a corner and Juventus then cannot find a way to pierce through the Zenit defence as they ably keep any chances at arms' length. Still no goals in this one.21:34

The first yellow card of the game has been duly flourished - and it will be for Barrios, after he uncorked a challenge on Alex Sandro, scything low and missing the ball entirely. That could have been nastier.21:32

Now it is Zenit's turn to see an effort blocked, with Claudinho - having already sighted goal once with a great chance earlier - seeing his latest strike deflected off the defence before it can cause too much trouble.21:33

Chiesa has been on the quieter side of things so far but suddenly he takes a ball from Bentancur and sees a shot blocked. It's a burst of life and Zenit rally by forcing play back out of their half for the moment.21:30

Kritsyuk almost gets into a dangerous tangle with a Juve attacker now after Locatelli drifts the long ball into the box seeking one of a handful of forwards. Zenit's surer footing is slipping in terms of an even contest now.21:26

De Sciglio has been getting everywhere and now draws a foul off Douglas Santos for a shabby trip challenge. The Juve free-kick that follows though is rebuffed with a little more poise by the hosts.21:23

Kritsyuk rides high to punch away a De Sciglio delivery now though and Zenit panic, flustered as they try to scatter the loose ball towards safety.21:22

Shot for Zenit! A slip from the Juve defence and Malcom nips in to pick up the ball. He flicks it inside to Claudinho and Szczesny spills the powerful, flying finish, requiring evasive action to survive.21:36

A ripple of unease ventures through the Zenit defence when Juve push on their wings and they do so again now. A deep throw-in doesn't come to anything too damaging; Kritsyuk has to be alert for a cut-back a moment later.21:18

Zenit have only lost one of their last five home games against Italian opponents in European competition (W2 D2), with that lone defeat coming against Milan in the UEFA Champions League back in October 2012.21:17

Claudinho latches onto a short ball swept forward from the left wing but the linesman's flag goes up and the Zenit man is forced to settle for the offside call.21:13

If one side needs to call on strike options though, the visitors feel like they have the stronger bench. Kean has been forced to settle for the dugout so far - and he could be a gamebreaker if needed.21:13

Juve, in their typical black-and-white kit, are certainly finding their spark matched by their hosts in sky blue. Barrios in particular is making a spot of nuisance in the middle of the field.21:12

Morata invites the Zenit to defence to nip at his ankles - and they duly do. The free-kick flies in from the left side of the box and is bounced away with a wayward clearing header.21:08

Juve are holding a fluid shape however, with both teams set up in similar formations against each other. This could well be an entertaining tussle.21:07

An early corner for Zenit, off De Sciglio, is met with an approving murmur from the crowd. If they come up with a result here, there will back themselves to upset the odds and reach the last-16.21:06

We are underway in this Champions League group stage clash between Zenit and Juventus!21:00

The anthem has been concluded and we are moments away from kick-off.21:00

The teams have emerged at Saint Petersburg Stadium for the Champions League anthem. Today's match referee is Switzerland's Sandro Scharer.20:56

In all European competition, Juventus have never lost in eight previous encounters with Russian sides (W7 D1), scoring 18 times and only conceding three, although their only failure to win came away at Zenit in November 2008.20:48

Zenit and Juventus have only met previously in the 2008-09 Champions League group stage – a 1-0 win for Juve in Turin and 0-0 draw in Russia.20:39

Subs: Juan Cuadrado, Arthur, Danilo, Daniele Rugani, Aaron Ramsey, Mattia Perin, Moise Kean, Carlo Pinsoglio, Giorgio Chiellini, Dejan Kulusevski.20:37

JUVENTUS(4-3-3): Wojciech Szczesny; Mattia De Sciglio, Leonardo Bonucci, Matthijs de Ligt, Alex Sandro; Manuel Locatelli, Rodrigo Bentancur, Weston McKennie; Federico Chiesa, Alvaro Morata, Federico Bernardeschi.20:37

Subs: Sardar Azmoun, Daler Kuzyaev, David Byazrov, Daniil Krugovoy, Kirill Kravtsov, Mikhail Kerzhakov, Aleksandr Erokhin, Andrey Mostovoy, Danila Khotulev, Daniil Kuznetsov, Aleksey Sutormin.20:36

ZENIT (4-3-3): Stanislav Kritsyuk; Vyacheslav Karavaev, Dmitriy Chistyakov, Dejan Lovren, Yaroslav Rakitskiy; Wendel, Wilmar Barrios, Douglas Santos; Malcom, Artem Dzyuba, Claudinho.20:36

There's no Paulo Dybala and Adrien Rabiot for Juventus, with the former sidelined following a Covid-19 case during the Nations League - while Zenit are only missing Magomed Ozdoev, though Sardar Azmoun has to settle for the bench.20:35

Against them, Sergei Semak's domestic champions know that a win would bolster his own side's prospects of reaching the knockout stages. With one win and one loss to their name, they could do with an upset against their favoured visitors.20:31

Massimiliano Allegri made a slow start to his return to Turin but the old Bianconeri boss has got his side on a roll now - and they can go three from three in Europe with a win in Russia today.20:28

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the 2021-22 Champions League campaign, as Juventus look to cement their place atop Group H with a trip to face Zenit at Saint Petersburg Stadium.20:24

Dove si gioca la partita:

Stadio: Saint Petersburg Stadium
Città: Saint Petersburg
Capienza: 68134 spettatori20:24