Zenit's return match in the Europa League. Haaland will be a Scandinavian star - like Zlatan

The results of the return match of the Molde - Zenit playoff round were summed up by former Zenit midfielder Dmitry Barannik, who played and coached in Norway for 15 years.

The result is excellent. The game is confusing

The starting lineup didn’t surprise me,” Barannik began. - Before the match, I said that if Semak has the opportunity, he will give time to those who have not played much this season. And so it happened.

Maybe it was worth saving Kuzyaev before Spartak, who played at the World Cup and did not look so bright in the last games?
- Kuzyaev scored, which means everything was done correctly. The World Championship ended a long time ago, the guys had to get involved. Zenit needed a result to advance to the group stage. Therefore, there was no point in completely relaxing and underestimating your opponent. That's what the game showed.

- Did Zenit consciously give up the initiative? Can we say that the team paid for this?
- Zenit did not control the situation. I just didn’t score in the first Molde, but I scored in the second. In the first half, I thought that Zenit was playing for results, and in the second half I had this seditious thought: “Is this really the level of Zenit?” I know Norwegian football well, Molde is the fifth team in the championship. I assume that what happened in the second half in Norway, as well as the situation in Minsk, was not an accident. Not everything is as good as we hope. We wishful thinking.

- Do you see problems only in away matches?
- Zenit did not play very well against Molde at home either. But the outcome was decided by individual qualities. At home, Molde could have led already in the first half with a score of 2:0. I was very disappointed with Zenit. The result is excellent. But the game is puzzling. Moreover, against an opponent of this level.

- Maybe the players were saving their energy, thinking about the match against Spartak?
- How can you save energy when Molde could have scored the third goal? Then additional time would begin and the expenditure of energy would increase. The point is different. The statistics are eloquent - the Norwegians had more than 20 shots towards the goal, an overwhelming advantage. Zenit was lucky.

- In the return match? Or as a result of the entire confrontation?
- Based on the results of two matches. Molde could achieve best result In St. Petersburg. But what happened yesterday... it’s very difficult for me to explain. I saw Molde live... this is a team of a much lower level. And this once again proves that team play and spirit beat class.

Haaland will be a Scandinavian star - like Zlatan

- Did the Norwegians catch the courage like Zenit did at home against Dynamo Minsk?
- “Molde” was completely stronger than “Zenith”. In most components, except for "standards". There is no point in denying this. The Norwegians were stronger in these matches, and this should not be explained by courage. It's difficult to explain Zenit's game.

- Did Salzburg make the right decision by buying 18-year-old Erling Haaland for 4 million euros? Will he make a star not only of Norwegian, but also of European level?
- No, I didn’t make a mistake. Salzburg is an intermediate stage. The guy is 18 years old and he wants to get the ball. At the end of the game, despite his size, he keeps the pace and rushes towards the opponent's goal. good left leg, good speed, fighting character, vision of the field. A rare football player at 18 years old. And we saw that Norwegian football is not as bad as we think. Haaland did not repeat the mistake of Martin Odegaard, who moved to Real Madrid, but chose a different path. I am sure that Solskjaer helped him, because Haaland, if he wanted, could end up in any Premier League team. The guy has a lot of potential, I’ve been following him for over a year. The era of Zlatan Ibrahimovic is over and Holland will be the new Scandinavian star.

- Do Zenit have any strength left against Spartak?
- “Spartak” is a different story, emotional. But this attitude should not go off scale. These two teams understand that this match is very important, not even in terms of standings, and the attitude of the fans towards themselves and two to three weeks of calm. After all, if Zenit beats Spartak, the fans will forgive subsequent unsuccessful games. If he doesn’t beat, there will be a residue. A principled game in which the opponents have something to lose.

It's a big football night for the fans today. Interest in the game between Dynamo Minsk and Zenit St. Petersburg was fueled by the previous match. Yes, during the meeting in Minsk Russian club, which won the UEFA Cup and Super Cup, suffered a crushing defeat from the Minsk team.

At stake, let us remind you, is access to the next round of the Europa League. Fans watch the game from the fan zone. The stands are practically empty this time – and not at all because the tickets were not sold out. This is a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct.

The players are, of course, upset that they are left without support. However, the hosts and guests are determined. Svetlana Karulskaya went to the northern capital of Russia to see everything with her own eyes. Bets, forecasts and football atmosphere are in our report.

After a deafening loss to the Belarusians in the first match of the Europa League qualifying round (0:4), neither the St. Petersburg players nor the fans from the banks of the Neva turn their noses up. They are just trying to find reasons not to hang him. After all, in order to beat the sum of two matches Belarusian team, the St. Petersburg team must score five goals against Dynamo today. And if the Minsk team scores, then even more.

The people of St. Petersburg, of course, did not expect such a devastating defeat in Minsk. They went to Belarus as favorites. Coach Sergei Semak, not seeing the Minsk residents strong opponents, introduced an updated team composition. He entrusted the place in goal to Yuri Lodygin, who had not played for a long time, and did not take the main favorite of the World Cup, forward Artyom Dzyuba, to the match. They didn't calculate it. And in the end - four resounding slaps from those who were called outsiders of European football.

By the way, by decision of UEFA, the match is taking place without the support of Russian fans. They are punished for aggressive behavior.

Last season in the 1/8 finals of the Europa League against the German Leipzig football fans throwing objects onto the field and even shouting racist chants. But in St. Petersburg they finally figured out how not to leave their favorite club without support.

"One city - one team." St. Petersburg has lived under this motto since its foundation. football club"Zenith". No other emerging or existing football projects on the banks of the Neva are competitors. Here they support only one club. Therefore, today’s return match with the Belarusian “Dynamo-Minsk” is watched by a significant part of the city of five million.

Almost 50,000 people are now cheering for Zenit at the club’s home stadium, the St. Petersburg Arena. The match itself takes place at another stadium, Petrovsky. The decision to organize a fan zone with large screens and broadcast of the game was made a few days before the qualifying match in Minsk. Everyone here hoped that the Belarusians would pass quickly and easily, which means that there was no point in depriving the fans of a victorious picture and the city of celebration. Now everyone, except for the few Dynamo-Minsk fans present at the stadium, believes in a miracle.

But Belarusians were lucky to watch the game live. True, everyone who wanted to come could not. According to UEFA regulations, up to 200 fans of the visiting team can be present at a match without spectators. And all 200 tickets in Belarus were immediately booked.

The ultimate goal of the qualifying tournament is to reach the group stage of the Europa League. 20 people went from Belarus to St. Petersburg for the away match best players Minsk "Dynamo" and the coaching staff. From the first minutes of the match it is clear that both teams are ready to “run” and not “stay.” Although, Dynamo has a well-thought-out defensive tactics. We are waiting for attacks, counterattacks and our victory!

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On Wednesday, CSKA Moscow played the second match of the third qualifying round of the Champions League at home with the Greek AEK. And on Thursday, the return games of the penultimate stage of qualifying for the Europa League will be played by the Russian Zenit and Krasnodar. The St. Petersburg team will host the Israeli club Bnei Yehuda, and the Bulls will visit the Danish Lyngby.

Zenit intends to win its fifth win in a row this season today. Photo: Petr Kovalev/TASS

A week ago, the St. Petersburg team won away with a score of 2:0, and the Krasnodar team defeated the Scandinavians with a score of 2:1.

The Israelis got to St. Petersburg not without adventure: on the way, Bnei Yehuda had a stopover in Istanbul, during which the team lost two defenders. Apparently, the players got lost among the duty-free shops and did not find the correct gate. As a result, the couple had to find another flight, and they flew to Russia separately from their teammates.

In general, the atmosphere before the match in St. Petersburg is as if the teams are about to play a friendly match. Although this meeting will be historic for Zenit: for the first time in history, the St. Petersburg team will play in European competition at the stadium on Krestovsky Island.

The former Main coach St. Petersburg residents and the Russian team Anatoly Byshovets.

Taking into account upcoming match With Spartak, can Mancini take a risk and field a second squad for the game?

Anatoly Byshovets: Today Zenit does not have a semi-reserve squad. The team is well equipped. It has two equal compositions. The opponent's level allows for easy rotation. The St. Petersburg team has a comfortable advantage after the first match. There can be no concern about this.

On Thursday, Zenit will play a European Cup match at the new stadium for the first time in history

Maybe Mancini will try out a new scheme in front of Spartak?

Anatoly Byshovets: Everything depends, first of all, on the physical condition of the players. If a coach has a desire to try something new, then he needs to support this intention with an analysis of the situation. Who knows, maybe tomorrow Mancini will give the same Poloz or Erokhin a chance. Let's see what the Italian decides.

Can Zenit neglect the Europa League to win the Premier League?

Anatoly Byshovets: Don't think. We see that Zenit has chosen the European path. And a whole group of football players play both in the Europa League and in the Russian Championship.

Let's talk about Krasnodar. In the first match with Lyngby the team had obvious problems. Why did this happen?

Anatoly Byshovets: I think Krasnodar’s problems should be looked for in their playing style. They need to move away from one model and look for others. Holding the ball, positional attack - all this is great, all this is necessary. But as soon as the Krasnodar team faces a strong opponent, problems begin. But, on the other hand, the team is hampered by injuries. When they return, then it will be possible to conduct a full analysis.

Where will we watch?

19.55 “Zenit” (Russia) - “Bnei Yehuda” (Israel). Third qualifying round of the Europa League. Return match. Live Stream.

Match! Football 1

20.40 Lyngby (Denmark) - Krasnodar (Russia). Third qualifying round of the Europa League. Return match. Live Stream.