Zenit record biggest ever Champions League win against Malmo

Zenit record their biggest ever Champions League win as they hit four past 10-man Malmo… while Matteo Pessina nets only goal as Atalanta beat Young Boys to go top of Group F

  • Zenit took the lead nine minutes in when Claudinho fired home first-time finish 
  • Daler Kuzyaev then sent a looping header beyond the dive of Johan Dahlin 
  • Aleksei Sutormin and Wendel also netted as Anel Ahmedhodzic was sent off
  • Atalanta maintained good start after an opportunist goal from Matteo Pessina

Zenit St Petersburg notched the first win of their Champions League Group H campaign with a 4-0 victory over Swedish side Malmo FF, who had Anel Ahmedhodzic sent off as they slumped to their second defeat in a row in the competition.

The Russian side, who lost 1-0 at holders Chelsea in their opening game, took the lead in the ninth minute when Brazilians Douglas Santos and Claudinho combined for the latter to fire home a superb first-time finish.

Malmo captain Andreas Christiansen had a glorious chance to net Malmo’s first goal in the group stage 10 minutes later, but he blazed his effort over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

Zenit St Petersburg notched the first win of their Champions League campaign against Malmo

The Russian side took the lead in the ninth minute with Claudinho’s superb first-time finish

The Swedes found themselves two down four minutes after the break as Yaroslav Rakitskyy twisted and turned before crossing for Daler Kuzyaev to send a looping header beyond the dive of Johan Dahlin and into the net.

Any slim hopes Malmo had of making a comeback were dashed four minutes later when centre-back Ahmedhodzic was shown a straight red card for denying a goalscoring opportunity with a deliberate handball.

Zenit’s Aleksei Sutormin scored in the 80th and Wendel added another in stoppage time to make it two consecutive defeats for bottom side Malmo and move Zenit level on three points with Juventus and Chelsea who meet in Turin later on Wednesday

Daler Kuzyaev (not pictured) then sent a looping header beyond the dive of Johan Dahlin

Anel Ahmedhodzic was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity with a deliberate handball

Meanwhile, Atalanta maintained their good start in the Champions League after an opportunist goal from Italy forward Matteo Pessina midway through the second half helped them to a 1-0 home win over Swiss side Young Boys on Wednesday.

The result provisionally left Atalanta top of Group D on four points from two games, ahead of Young Boys who have three. Manchester United, who lost at Young Boys 2-1 in their opening match, host Villarreal later on Wednesday.

Atalanta dominated throughout and Young Boys goalkeeper David von Ballmoos pulled off several fine saves before Pessina slid in at the near post to stab home a low Duvan Zapata cross in the 68th minute.

Zenit’s Aleksei Sutormin scored in the 80th minute as the Russian side added another

Wendel (centre) added another in stoppage time to make it two consecutive defeats for bottom side Malmo

The home side had a 17th-minute goal ruled out for offside after a VAR check, when Young Boys defender Sandro Lauper turned the ball into his own net, but was let off the hook as Rafael Toloi mistimed his run in the build up.

Pessina was guilty of a shocking miss when he failed to bundle the ball home from three metres in the 43rd minute and Von Ballmoos kept out efforts by Zapata and Davide Zappacosta before he was finally beaten.

The keeper denied the home side a second goal when he reacted superbly to thwart substitute Luis Muriel in the 88th minute and Atalanta, who earned a 2-2 draw at Villarreal in their opening match, held on comfortably in the closing stages.

Atalanta maintained their good start after an opportunist goal from Italy striker Matteo Pessina

Pessina was guilty of a shocking miss before finally breaking the deadlock in Bergamo




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