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Lukasz Piszczek scores to equalize, St. Petersburg on the ground. © APA / afp / OLGA MALTSEVA
After three bad appearances against Cologne, Lazio and Frankfurt, BVB was initially inhibited against Zenit St. Petersburg. But in the end the group won, thanks to a race to catch up and goals from two veterans. Lazio also survived the group.
December 08, 2020
Lucien Favre acknowledged the end of the earnings crisis with a permanent smile. Visibly relieved, the Borussia Dortmund coach went from pro to pro after the final whistle and thanked him for the happy ending in the final show of strength in the preliminary round. After the last three competitive matches without a win, the 2-1 draw at Zenit St. Petersburg brought the group victory in the Champions League and increased the chances of a supposedly easier opponent in the first knockout round draw on next Monday.
Youssoufa Moukoko (16, left) came on as a substitute in the 58th minute, becoming the youngest player in Champions League history. © APA / afp / OLGA MALTSEVA
“It was a dirty victory, but finally another victory,” Marco Reus said on DAZN and spoke of a “close game.” In front of some 16,000 spectators in the stadium heated to 15 degrees, Lukasz Piszczek (68th minute) and Axel Witsel (78th minute) clashed on Tuesday for a close victory. “We are very happy, we really wanted to come first,” said former Saint Petersburg pro Witsel, who barely celebrated his goal. Sebastian Driussi (minute 16) had previously given the Russians the advantage. “It wasn’t glorious now,” Reus said, “but it was important to finish the group first.”
A draw is enough for Lazio
Lazio secured the promotion ticket to the soccer Champions League group F round of 16 on Tuesday night. A 2-2 draw at home against Club Brugge in the last match was enough for the Italians. Joaquín Correa (12th) and Ciro Immobile (27th / penalty) had shot the Romans twice up front, but Ruud Vormer (15th) and Hans Vanaken (76th) each responded. And that despite being outnumbered after a yellow-red card from full-back Eduard Sobol (39./Foul). In the end, the Belgians were even closer to victory, but were unlucky with an aluminum goal from Charles de Ketelaere (92nd). So the Italians trembled in the knockout round.
Group F.
Lazio 2-2 Club Brugge
1: 0 Correa (12.), 1: 1 Shaper (15.), 2: 1 immobile (27./Elfmeter), 2: 2 Vanaken (76.)
Zenit – Dortmund 1: 2
1: 0 Driussi (16.), 1: 1 Pisczek (68.), 1: 2 Witsel (78.)
table
| Pos. | Team | Games | points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Borussia Dortmund | 6 | 13 |
| 2. | Lazio | 6 | 10 |
| 3. | Bruges Club | 6 | 8 |
| Four. | Zenit Saint Petersburg | 6 | 1 |
Author: dpa / apa / det
