Match Analysis: Zenit St Petersburg 0-0 AS Monaco

Zenit St Petersburg met AS Monaco at the Petrovsky Stadium in the Champions League with both sides have grabbed victories in their opening Group C encounters.

Each team wasted chances in a lacklustre 90 minutes in Russia, with Zenit's Hulk creating two standout opportunities which were squandered by Salomon Rondon and Nicolas Lombaerts as the game ended 0-0.

The draw sees both sides still well in contention for qualification, but they will need more points from difficult ties against Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica in late October.

Here, Sports Mole looks over this evening's action and provides an in-depth look at how each of the teams performed.

Match statistics

Zenit St Petersburg Shots: 13 On target: 3 Possession: 54% Corners: 5 Fouls: 15

AS Monaco Shots: 9 On target: 2 Possession: 46% Corners: 5 Fouls: 19

Was the result fair?

This evening's encounter had a draw written all over it after a lively opening 20 minutes soon faded into obscurity. Monaco started brightly, but drifted quickly and failed to offer anything of particular note going forward. Zenit, on the other hand, grew into the game although they too looked placid in attack. They wasted two great chances to win the fixture, but given the overall pace and tenacity of the game, a point each was probably the fairest outcome.

Zenit St Petersburg's performance

Zenit have often struggled at Champions League level but they did well to beat Benfica during matchday one. They were simply off the pace this evening. It wasn't until the second half where they began to even plan routes forward. Hulk was undoubtedly the best player on the pitch, but the quality around him was lacking as both Rondon and Lombaerts wasted great chances to grab three points.

AS Monaco's performance

The visitors looked particularly encouraging in the opening 20 minutes as they went close on two occasions. However, their intensity and craft faded late into the first half and it failed to come back to them in the second. They might have stole a lucky win had Yannick Ferreira Carrasco not brushed the post, but they were also lucky not to concede as they almost fell foul of the industry of Zenit's Hulk.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Hulk: A hard one to choose really given the lack of quality on show in Russia. Hulk was the only player on the pitch who sought to bring some enterprise and endeavour to the contest. He failed to create much in the shooting department, with his focus more on setting up his teammates. Unfortunately they were unable to reciprocate.

Referee performance

Mark Clattenburg had an impressive game in what is often a difficult environment to work in. The Englishman allowed the game to continue through an irritating period plagued with ill-considered tackles, only drawing for cards when necessary.

What next?

Zenit St Petersburg: A win in their first Group C fixture has done wonders for Zenit's chances of qualification. They won't be too down with the draw tonight, though it does make their next fixture with Bayer Leverkusen all the more important.

AS Monaco: Much like Zenit, a point won't be too troublesome for the visitors this evening. They now have four points and will next face Benfica in late October. Three points tonight would've been a big help, but things are still well within Monaco's own reach.