Zenit St Petersburg qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League with an assured 2-0 victory away at Lyon.
Artem Dzyuba slammed home Hulk's pull back in the 25th minute to put the Russian side a goal up at the break.
The duo combined once more midway through the second half to double Zenit's lead.
Both sides ended the game with 10 men as Maxime Gonalons and Aleksandr Anyukov picked up second yellow cards late on.
Read how it all unfolded in our minute-by-minute commentary below.
Hello! Thanks for joining me on Sports Mole this evening for this crunch tie in France.
Before further ado, let's take a look at the team news.
Lyon starting XI: Lopes; Jallet, Yanga-Mbiwa, Umtiti, Bedimo; Tolisso, Gonalons, Darder; Beauvue, Lacazette, Valbuena
Lyon subs: Gorgelin, Morel, Rafael, Ferri, Malbranque, Mvuemba, Cornet
Zenit starting XI: Lodygin; Anyukov, Criscito, Lombaerts, Neto; Javi Garcia, Witsel; Hulk, Danny, Shatov; Dzyuba
Zenit subs: Kerzhakov, Smolnikov, Zuev, Ryazantsev, Yusupov, Evseev, Dolgov
So, Lyon have made two changes from the side that won 1-0 at Troyes on Saturday. Maxime Gonalons shifts forward into midfield in place of Jordan Ferri, which allows Samuel Umtiti to return to the back four. There is also an alteration at left-back, where Henri Bedimo is preferred to Jeremy Morel.
While Hubert Fournier has made two changes from the weekend, tonight's lineup actually sees three different names in the starting XI from the one that lost 3-1 away at Zenit in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago. Henri Bedimo, Sergi Darder and Claudio Beauvue didn't start the away leg, but have been entrusted from the off this evening.
As for Zenit, they have recalled their star man Hulk after he was rested at the weekend. It proved costly, as Zenit dropped two points in a 0-0 draw with Mordovya Saransk, who are second-bottom in the Russian Premier League. The only other change comes in defence, where Luis Neto replaces Ezequiel Garay.
Ezequiel Garay also started in the 3-1 home win two weeks ago, but the biggest change from the side that took the field that night is in goal, where first-choice Juri Lodygin has replaced Mikhail Kerzhakov.
We're less than 10 minutes away from kickoff in France, so it's time for me to make a prediction. I think Zenit are going to pick up the point they need to qualify and I reckon it'll finish 1-1.
Zenit have said that roughly 600 fans have made the trip from Russia to France this evening. Now that's dedication!
Our fans section in Lyon #LyonZenit #UCL pic.twitter.com/ESStcRAqFK
— FC Zenit in English (@fczenit_en) November 4, 2015
The Lyon fans are clapping their hands high above their heads in unison - much like spectators do before a long jump at the athletics - as they wait for the players to make their way out onto the pitch.
The Champions League music is now blaring out of the speakers inside the stadium with kickoff just moments away!
All 22 players are wearing black armbands as a mark of respect for the victims of the Russian airplane crash. Many of them were residents of St Petersburg.
KICKOFF: Lyon get us underway kicking from left to right in their white home kit, while Zenit are decked out all in sky blue.
Bedimo has two bites at the cherry to swing crosses in from the left. The first is cleared, while the second deflects into the hands of Lodygin.
Bedimo's again involved, but this time he fouls Hulk on the far touchline. A free kick to Zenit inside their own half.
It's pumped forward to Dzyuba, who wins the flick-on, but Shatov can only direct a difficult header wide of goal under pressure. It was never in trouble of testing Lopes.
Very little to shout about in the opening stages here. If Lyon are to win, they will have to defeat the only side left in the competition with a 100% record. That's quite some feat for Villas-Boas's side, but will they be able to make it four from four this evening?
Well, Bedimo can't keep out of the action. He's penalised for resembling a schoolboy with a terrible foul throw. I still don't understand how professional footballers do that!
I think I might aswell have Bedimo on 'Ctrl + Alt + V' tonight. He scuffs a shocking cross straight to a Witsel after good build-up by the hosts.
This time, Lyon release Jallet on the right channel. The right-back's cutback finds Valbuena, but Zenit scramble the ball clear and relieve the pressure by winning a free kick.
OUCH! Yanga-Mbiwa swings a leg into the face of Shatov. Hats off to the Zenit midfielder, who jumps staright back to his feet.
Hulk's free kick is glanced away by Umtiti and rolls out for a throw-in on the far side for Zenit.
Lacazette is penalised for a foul on Anyukov, but Hulk scuffs his delivery to the near post and it's cleared.
It's another foul throw, this time by Dzyuba. Sort it out guys!
Jallet again finds joy with a run from deep down the right, but Beauvue can only nod well wide of the far post under pressure from Criscito.
OFF THE LINE! Umtiti to the rescue for Lyon, who hacks Danny's shot off the line after Lopes had spilled Criscito's low cross from the left at the feet of the Zenit attacker!
SAVE! Lodygin holds Darder's curling shot from the edge of the box. It wasn't a particularly powerful effort from the Spanish midfielder, but it's Lyon first shot on target.
BOOKING! The first yellow card goes the way of Witsel, who is penalised for a lunging challenge on Valbuena. The hulking midfielder was never going to win the footrace with the diminutive Frenchman and has put Zenit in trouble.
SAVE! Danny is presented with the best chance of the game so far! Five Zenit players break forward from a Lyon corner and Hulk finds Danny with a sumptuous reverse ball, but the Zenit captain takes too long to get his shot away as Lopes rushes from his line to make a save at his feet.
That's two glorious chances for Danny already. The visitors should be ahead.
Having said that, Lyon have seen more of the ball and are finding joy in wide areas. Bedimo tests Lodygin with a shot and then a Valbuena cross from the right evades everyone.
GOAL! Lyon 0-1 Zenit St Petersburg (Artem Dzyuba)
Just like that, Zenit go ahead! It's a devastating counter-attack, as Hulk bursts past two defenders with a blistering turn of pace before cutting the ball back to Dzyuba, who has the simple task of slamming the ball into an empty net. The scoreboard may well read 'Dzyuba', but that goal was all about Hulk!
Lyon have had all of the ball since the goal, but as we saw with the opener, they'll have to be careful when Zenit win it back.
CLOSE! Tolisso comes the closest so far for the hosts after good work by Valbuena, who has been Lyon's brightest player in the opening half an hour. Valbuena got to the byline and pulled the ball back to Tolisso, who couldn't wrap enough of his foot around the ball as he flashed a shot narrowly wide of the near post from 15 yards.
CHANCE! Gonalons forces Lodygin into a save at full stretch, but he can only parry the ball to Yanga-Mbiwa eight yards from goal. The net is there waiting to bulge, but the centre-back - who is in acres of space - slices his shot wide of the near post. It's a shocker!
BOOKING! Gonalons enters the book for clattering into the back of Witsel.
Worrying signs for Zenit, as Hulk lies prone on the floor. It's not the first time the Brazilian has been on the turf complaining of injury. It'll be a huge blow for Zenit if he can't continue.
Hulk's back on the pitch, but he isn't moving comfortably whatsoever.
Here's the moment Dzyuba peeled away in celebration after netting the opener.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
OFF THE BAR! So close! Bedimo clatters the apex of the bar and post with a thunderous strike from 20 yards with Lodygin scrambling in vain!
CLOSE! Lodygin couldn't get near Bedimo's shot a minute ago, but he dashes from his line and throws himself at the feet of Tolisso to deny the midfielder inside the area. Brave goalkeeping!
This game is set up very nicely. Lyon are looking the better side, but Zenit have proven that they are lethal on the break.
I'm sure the Lyon right-back Jallet has spent most of the first half in the final third. He bursts forward again, but Criscito gets across to shield the ball out for a goal kick this time.
Danny's down now for Zenit. The home fans don't think he's injured as they pierce the air with their whistles, but the Zenit captain does look in quite some discomfort.
Lacazette tumbles under a challenge from Lombaerts, but the referee waves play on and Zenit come away with the ball. Lacazette gets another go one-on-one with Criscito though, but the left-back defends briliantly to nick the ball off his toes before winning a clever free kick.
TWO MINUTES OF ADDED TIME TO BE PLAYED
CLOSE! Darder almost levels for Lyon with a rifling right-footed shot from 25 yards out that whistles inches wide of the far post. It all came about from good pressure by the hosts as Hulk wanted too much time on the ball.
Wasteful from Hulk with the final kick of the half, as he opts for a tame shot from 20 yards rather than releasing the overlapping Witsel who was unmarked.
HALF TIME: Lyon 0-1 Zenit St Petersburg
After the opening 20 minutes, I was thinking we were going to be sitting through a dull 0-0 draw. But since then it's been all action! A great goal for Zenit, who could have had a couple more, and Lyon have carved out a few chances of their own aswell.
UPDATE: As things stand, it's 0-0 in the other Group H game between Gent and Valencia. If things stay as they are, Lyon will go out of the competition. A big 45 minutes coming up then!
UPDATE: The two English sides in action tonight are faring rather differently. While Chelsea are winning 1-0 at home to Dynamo Kiev, Arsenal have shipped three goals in a disastrous first half at Bayern Munich.
KICKOFF: Here we go then. Do Lyon have enough to save their Champions League campaign? Remember, they need to at least equal Valencia's result in Gent, where it's currently 0-0.
BOOKING! The first half isn't even a minute old before Criscito picks up a yellow card for a bad challenge on Beauvue.
UPDATE: Gent are 1-0 up against Valencia, which is good news for Lyon.
The second half has seen Lyon dominate the ball again, but they need a goal.
Criscito nips in to win the bal and draw a foul from Tolisso.
Dzyuba connects with Hulk's menacing free kick eight yards out from goal, but he heads over the bar. It wouldn't have counted anyway, as the forward had just strayed offside.
A series of Zenit crosses are eventually dealt with as Jallet comes away with the ball on the right-hand side.
Neto sticks touch-tight to Lacazette, who looks to roll the defender on the edge of the box, but the Zenit defender emerges with the ball.
Yanga-Mbiwa can't do the same at the other end as he sends Hulk tumbling with an illegal challenge. The free kick is 35 yards out. He's not going to shoot, is he...?
Shoot he does, but it's one for the bloopers video. He kicks the turf and the ball ends up closer to the corner flag as it just about bobbles over the line. A little embarrassing...
BOOKING! Javi Garcia becomes the third Zenit player to pick up a booking as he steps across the run of Bedimo. The former Man City will now miss Zenit's next Group H game.
Valbuena whips in the free kick from the left wing, but it's just too high for his teammates as Lodygin gathers with ease.
BOOKING! Yellow card number four for Zenit after Anyukov clatters into the back of Beauvue on the left touchline. That was a nasty tackle.
GOAL! Lyon 0-2 Zenit St Petersburg (Artem Dzyuba)
Dzyuba gets his second, but Hulk is at the centre of things again! The Zenit No. 7 skips past three Lyon challenges before dinking the ball through to Dzyuba, who pokes the ball under Lopes. Tolisso tries desperately to hack the ball off the line, but he can't reach it in time as Zenit double their lead! Game over?
The Stade de Gerland has gone eerily quiet. That could be the goal that spells the end of Lyon's Champions League campaign should Valencia get a goal in Gent.
Gonalons attempts an ambitious first-time volley from 25 yards, but he drags it wide.
SUBSTITUTION: Former Man Utd right-back Rafael replaces Jallet. The Brazilian will provide a more attacking outlet down the far touchline.
Valbuena jinks his way past Criscito and Lombaerts, but can't quite catch up with the ball as it rolls over the byline.
Hulk is down again. You won't have noticed from his performance, but he's obviously struggling. Villas-Boas rested him at the weekend as he didn't want to aggravate a muscle injury, but it's troubling him tonight.
Lyon come forward again, but Zenit have almost reverted to a 6-3-1 formation now. They have a two-goal lead to protect and they're going about it in an incredibly assured manner.
Lacazette manages to escape from Neto for the first time this evening, but Witsel charges back to block his shot as it bounces behind for a Lyon corner.
Valbuena's delivery is poor though, as it sails over the heads of everyone and out for a goal kick.
Well, that's not going to get Lyon back into the game. Umtiti strides forward and blazes a wild shot into the stand behind Lodygin's goal.
Hulk tries to break into the box on the left wing, but he's crowded out by Umtiti and Yanga-Mbiwa.
SUBSTITUTION: Fournier turns to 19-year-old Cornet in an attempt to rescue something from the game, as Beauvue makes way.
He's certainly direct. Cornet gains 40 yards for Lyon before feeding Valbuena on the edge of the box, but the Frenchman loses his footing.
SHOT! Darder thumps a cleared corner back towards goal on the volley. Although he made good contact with the ball, it drifts a few yards wide of Lodygin's right-hand post.
RED CARD! The night goes from bad to worse for Lyon, as Gonalons picks up his second yellow card for a cynical foul on Danny. It was a stupid challenge to make on a booking, especially as he should be the one setting the example for his teammates.
SUBSTITUTION: Villas-Boas may be taking heed of that, as he removes Criscito - who is on a yellow card - and replaces him with Smolnikov.
BOOKING! Danny drew the foul from Gonalons a minute ago, but he now enters the book for hauling back Lacazette. That's Zenit's fifth booking this evening.
Lyon look defeated here. Zenit are just knocking the ball about with ease under no pressure whatsoever.
Lacazette steps in from the left, but slices a terrible shot well wide of goal.
SUBSTITUTION: It's a final throw of the dice for Lyon, as Ferri comes on for Darder.
Ferri's first involvement is to foul Danny 25 yards from goal. This could be dangerous the way Hulk is playing this evening.
Hulk forces a save from Lopes, but it's nothing more than routine. It's a rare weak attempt from the Brazilian!
Here's the moment Dzyuba effectively put the tie beyond Lyon.
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
SUBSTITUTION: Another Zenit player on a yellow card, Javi Garcia, makes way for Yusupov.
Lyon's Champions League campaign may well be hanging by a thread, but this result will see Zenit qualify for the knockout stages. If things stay as they are, Zenit will need just one more point from their final two games to top the group.
Valbuena is left squealing on the near touchline after a challenge by Witsel, but the referee gives nothing.
SUBSTITUTION: Dzyiba leaves the field to a standing ovation by the pocket of Zenit fans inside the stadium, as Ryazantsev is given the chance to impress for the final few minutes.
Lacazette sees another shot blocked - this time by Neto - against the backdrop of the French national anthem, which is being belted out by the home fans. It's a stirring tune, but it'll take more than that to give Lyon all three points tonight.
Hulk acts as peacekeeper as he breaks up a minor scuffle between Shatov and Valbuena.
SAVE! Lopes does brilliantly to dash from his line to snaffle the ball off the toes of Shatov, who had skinned Yanga-Mbiwa. The 'keeper even manages to release the ball from his grasp before he slides out of the area.
RED CARD! Stupidity of the highest order from Anyukov, who almost rugby tackles Cornet on the halfway line to pick up a second yellow card! There wasn't even any real danger in that situation!
Valbuena flashes a scissor kick over the bar from the edge of the area.
Well, well, well! Danny - who is already on a yellow card - fouls Rafael on the far touchline and the referee pulls out his book again... but he opts to caution Shatov for kicking the ball away instead. Controversial!
THREE MINUTES OF ADDED TIME TO BE PLAYED
DISALLOWED GOAL! So unlucky for Lyon! Yanga-Mbiwa reacts superbly to turn home the ball with a scorpion kick after Lodygin could only parry the ball back into the six-yard box. However, the flag went up immediately as the centre-back was in an offside position when contact was made by the initial header.
SHOT! Tolisso sees a deflected shot bobble wide. The midfielder's dejected, but Lyon have at least ended the game strongly.
FULL TIME: Lyon 0-2 Zenit St Petersburg
Zenit remain the only side in the competition with a 100% record, a run which now stretches to four games. The win in Lyon sees them progress to the knockout stages and they need just one more point from their final two games to top Group H.
Lyon are just about still in the competition. Gent's 1-0 win over Valencia is enough to keep their slim hopes of qualification alive, but it will take a miracle for them to progress.
That's all from me folks, but make sure to stick around on Sports Mole for all the reaction to tonight's results. Until next time!
Written by
Kristian Johnson
Kristian Johnson
