Austria Vienna vs Zenit St Petersburg preview - Zenit look to make up for lost time

Posted Wednesday, December 11, 2013 by PA

Nicolas Lombaerts hopes Zenit St Petersburg can make up for the disappointment of last season as they stand on the brink of qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League.

Twelve months ago Zenit missed out on qualification by one point from AC Milan but this time their destiny is in their own hands.

Victory over Austria Vienna at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Wednesday would guarantee the Russians a place in the knock-out stages for only the second time.

The omens are good given Vienna are already out of contention for the last 16 and have lost both their other home matches in Group G.

Last time out Zenit drew with group winners Atletico Madrid and were given a huge boost when Porto, who now sit a point behind them, could only draw against Vienna.

Defender Lombaerts told uefa.com: "It was our last chance to qualify for the next round, and luckily Porto also drew, and because of that if we win our match against Austria we will qualify.

"Now we have everything in our own hands and the return match against Austria is the most important match of the season.

"It is a very exciting battle for second place. It was clear from the first match that Atletico would win this group, and that the other three would be fighting for second place.

"Now we have a one-point lead and we have it all in our own hands, but we will have to fight until the bitter end.

"We are motivated because we did not manage to qualify last season. I think we gave it away, we gave away points. It is in our own hands now.

"It would be a shame if we give it away again. We have to give 100% for one more game and then we should be able to achieve it."

Vienna qualified for the group stages for the first time this season and coach Nenad Bjelica promised "we will try everything" as they bid to avoid a fourth consecutive home defeat in Europe.

They scored their first goal in a 1-1 draw with Porto last time, and Bjelica added on fk-austria.at: "We can play with total freedom and try to get something."