Zenit 2-4 Dortmund: A devastating opening blow.

The cold weather in Russia couldn't deter the visiting Dortmund team. On the contrary, it was the German club that stunned the home team Zenit with early cold showers at the Petrovsky Stadium this morning.

Dortmund have practically secured their place in the quarter-finals.

GOAL

Dortmund: Mkhitaryan (4'), Reus (5'), Lewandowski (61, 71')

Zenit: Shatov (57'), Hulk (70', pen)

Visiting teams usually face disadvantages when traveling to Russia during the cold season. But the opposite happened at Petrovsky. The near-zero temperatures this morning made it very difficult for Zenit to get into the rhythm of the game. This is because the Russian Premier League is still on its winter break. The last official match for coach Luciano Spalleti's team was on December 6, 2013, almost three months ago.

Zenit clearly demonstrated their limitations and lack of ball control throughout the first half. They completely failed to keep up with and win the ball against their opponents. This is why they conceded two goals in quick succession.

In the first goal conceded in the 4th minute, Dortmund's star winger Marco Reus dribbled with speed and skill down the right wing, bursting into the penalty area before creating an opportunity for Henrik Mkhitaryan to quickly finish and open the scoring. Zenit's second goal came almost immediately afterward. This time, Reus's speed and acceleration once again overwhelmed Zenit's disoriented players. He surged forward and unleashed a powerful shot after a pass from Grosskreutz.

Zenit tried to fight back after conceding two shocking goals. However, the inertia from a long period without official matches made their task difficult. Dortmund remained in control of the game. They continued to create a series of dangerous situations in front of Zenit's goal, but failed to score any more goals in the remainder of the first half.

After 45 minutes of play, the Zenit players finally warmed up and regained their feel for the ball. They played more smoothly and powerfully in the second half. The Russian team's hopes of turning the tide were further fueled when they scored a goal to reduce the deficit to 1-2 in the 57th minute, thanks to a rebound shot from midfielder Oleg Shatov. Unfortunately, their hopes didn't last long. In the 61st minute, Dortmund extended their lead to 3-1. The goal for the German team was scored by striker Robert Lewandowski with a neat finish after a cross from Piszczek.

Hope flared up again for Zenit shortly afterwards when they were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute, after Piszczek fouled Fayzulin inside the box. Star player Hulk didn't miss the opportunity, firing the ball into the top corner of the net.

However, Dortmund almost immediately rendered Zenit's efforts meaningless. Lewandowski delivered the decisive blow for Dortmund. He broke free, received the ball, and finished with a superb angled shot in the 71st minute.

Zenit were completely devastated after conceding the fourth goal and had to accept defeat. Meanwhile, with a 4-2 away win in the first leg, Dortmund have put one foot in the Champions League quarter-finals.

STARTING LINEUP

Zenit: Lodygin; Anyukov (Smolnikov, 84'), Lombaerts, Neto, Criscito; Witsel, Shatov; Fayzulin (Kerzhakov, 84'), Arshavin (Tymoschuk, 15), Hulk; Rondon.

Dortmund: Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Friedrich, Sokratis, Schmelzer; Kehl, Sahin; Grosskreutz (Durm, 90'), Mkhitaryan (Aubameyang, 70'), Reus (Hofmann, 85'); Lewandowski.

According to Bongdaplus