Sardar Azmoun @ Zenit St Petersburg | 2019

[Medzdidz]

Let’s hope for Benfica to beat Lyon.

[BacheLot]

2-1 ft
Pooped out Zenit completely overran in 2nd half

[Bladsville]

Let’s hope for Benfica to beat Lyon.

Yup.. lets hope the team who have yet to win a game defeat Lyon. :-(

[teammelli91]

I didn’t watch this match, but I watched the highlights to that 6-1 victory over Rostov.

How did Sardar do today vs Leipzig?

[ParthianDE]

The second half changed everything. Leipzig was way more organized.

Zenit did look more tired, though they fought hard.

Zenit is definitely missing a midfield glue. Much of their strategy is to hoof up the ball, have Dzyuba trap it and lay it off. The problem is that Leipzig's coach knew this and prepared for it. Zenit needs more varied approaches and for that they need an improved midfield.

Leipzig did deserve this win.

Azmoun did well, but didn't really get any great chances. He seemd a bit tired too, that's most likely why he was subbed off.

[diz]

Benefica up 1-0 !!

[Iran_19]

Benfica beating Lyon 1-0. Best result for Zenit.
They have two home games vs Lyon and Leipzig.

Sent from my MAR-LX3A using Tapatalk

[inarsenewetrust]

Dont think it had much to do with fitness related to them being tired from previous game. Zenit guys put in a shift, but the amount of running guys like azmoun had to do with blind balls today was criminal. Semak should have instructed him not to chase as much and to conserve energy.

The reality is that Leipzieg are a superior team in most aspects, especially at home. Their ball movement and speed of passing was relentless tonight. Zenit gave it a valiant effort, but once they conceded it was going to be difficult.

Zenits offensive scheme is built on accurate balls to azmoun and dzyuba who combine together excellently and work in the midfielders and wingers from there.
Tonight, Leipzieg quickly shut that down with Upemacano (MOTM) and Orban totally destroying their one two punch up top. Dzyuba was effectively paralyzed with no room to operate, and azmoun was using all his oxygen just to get to a couple long balls in the corner.

First half, zenit defended well, but Semak was not prepared/didnt foresee that leipzieg could still go up a level. He persisted with same tactical setup, when zenit needed to change while on top, maybe put in another defender, but overall pull the defensive line forward by 10-20 metres to close space to midfield and offensive line.
Semak failed to read the game properly and adjust his tactics. Its disappointing that being up 1-0 against such a strong opponent away from home he couldnt even bring back a point. Underestimated leizpieg big time after first half, and bit off more than he could chew thinking zenit could just beat them.

With Regards to Sardar : First half he ran his ass off and was a real threat on the break. His passing was intelligent and so were his off the ball runs. It was sardars run and body feint, cross that created the play for Rakitskiy's goal. Second half he was visibly tired, also physically done a couple times by upamacano, but subbing him was still a mistake as they didnt put a more dangerous player on.

We know zenits midfield lacks creativity, and after the azmoun-dzyuba danger was eliminated they struggled to make any openings. The lack of another offensive dimension to provide a threat, (such as Malcom's dribbling ability and speed) was really clear.

Overall 2-1 away is not a terrible scoreline considering how strong of a team leipzieg are. IF zenit can get 7 points from their remaining three games (2 of which are at home) they still have good chance of progression.

[Nika89]

Mee with azmoun before the game... I talked with him before the game and he said he will score a gooaal

https://ibb.co/N7yQsMb
https://ibb.co/1MvCGKN
https://ibb.co/9GDKCPd

[diz]

Mee with azmoun before the game... I talked with him before the game and he said he will score a gooaal

https://ibb.co/N7yQsMb
https://ibb.co/1MvCGKN
https://ibb.co/9GDKCPd

Cool...sorry he couldn't keep his promise

[Dubxl152]

Cool...sorry he couldn't keep his promise

Osorio stole it from him and whiffed. He had a wide open tap in.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[The]

Dont think it had much to do with fitness related to them being tired from previous game. Zenit guys put in a shift, but the amount of running guys like azmoun had to do with blind balls today was criminal. Semak should have instructed him not to chase as much and to conserve energy.

The reality is that Leipzieg are a superior team in most aspects, especially at home. Their ball movement and speed of passing was relentless tonight. Zenit gave it a valiant effort, but once they conceded it was going to be difficult.

Zenits offensive scheme is built on accurate balls to azmoun and dzyuba who combine together excellently and work in the midfielders and wingers from there.
Tonight, Leipzieg quickly shut that down with Upemacano (MOTM) and Orban totally destroying their one two punch up top. Dzyuba was effectively paralyzed with no room to operate, and azmoun was using all his oxygen just to get to a couple long balls in the corner.

First half, zenit defended well, but Semak was not prepared/didnt foresee that leipzieg could still go up a level. He persisted with same tactical setup, when zenit needed to change while on top, maybe put in another defender, but overall pull the defensive line forward by 10-20 metres to close space to midfield and offensive line.
Semak failed to read the game properly and adjust his tactics. Its disappointing that being up 1-0 against such a strong opponent away from home he couldnt even bring back a point. Underestimated leizpieg big time after first half, and bit off more than he could chew thinking zenit could just beat them.

With Regards to Sardar : First half he ran his ass off and was a real threat on the break. His passing was intelligent and so were his off the ball runs. It was sardars run and body feint, cross that created the play for Rakitskiy's goal. Second half he was visibly tired, also physically done a couple times by upamacano, but subbing him was still a mistake as they didnt put a more dangerous player on.

We know zenits midfield lacks creativity, and after the azmoun-dzyuba danger was eliminated they struggled to make any openings. The lack of another offensive dimension to provide a threat, (such as Malcom's dribbling ability and speed) was really clear.

Overall 2-1 away is not a terrible scoreline considering how strong of a team leipzieg are. IF zenit can get 7 points from their remaining three games (2 of which are at home) they still have good chance of progression.

I guess we have very different takes on this game. To me both Azmoun and that other forward Dzyuba did very little in terms of pressing, chasing dead balls (Azmoun had one good chase in the first half where he messed up a cross), and getting into proper defensive positions on defense.

I'm still not fully sold on Zenit as anything beyond a round of 16 team. They just lack pace, stamina, and creativity that it takes to be a main play on the European stage.

[diz]

Benefica up 1-0 at HT

[Dortmund]

We all love Azmoun but this just wasn't his game.

0 shots, 0 key passes, 36% passes completed, and 14 times unpossessed.

He will do better next time.

[Iran_19]

2-1 for Benfica, 3 min to play.

Sent from my MAR-LX3A using Tapatalk