The Zenit Gazette
Squad11 Jan 2027
Mikhail Kerzhakov is the hero from the spot
A shoot-out is remembered by its ending, and this one ends with Mikhail Kerzhakov: 4 kept out, and a set of supporters who will describe every one of them for the next twenty years.
Match6 Jan 2027
Zenit through in the cup
A 0‑0 win over Chelyabinsk, and the draw for the next round can be watched with some interest for once.
Match9 Jan 2027
Nobody wins at Zenit
15 home matches unbeaten. Visiting sides arrive already talking about the atmosphere, which is usually the sign that they have half-lost before kickoff.
Player ratings11 Jan 2027
Vanja Drkušić shuts the door
Defensive actions: 26, and a clean sheet at the end of it. A centre-half's best afternoons look like nothing happening, which is precisely the point.
Player ratings11 Jan 2027
Nobody could get near Maxim Glushenkov
Successful dribbles: 23. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.
Squad11 Jan 2027
Luiz Henrique in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Zenit this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Player ratings11 Jan 2027
Nothing got past Nüraly Älip
22 defensive actions and a clean sheet at the end of them. A defender's afternoon can only be told by what did not happen, which is why nobody makes a highlights package out of one and every manager in the division would take it.
Match9 Jan 2027
Jhon Jhon’s goal not enough for Zenit
Jhon Jhon scored, and precious little else went right: 1‑2 to Krylya Sovetov, and a quiet walk to the dressing room.
Squad11 Jan 2027
The manager makes an example of Denis Adamov
“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.