UEFA Cup Final: Zenit St Petersburg v Rangers
With the UEFA Cup final due to get under way in under an hour, now would be a good time to preview the match. For live updates during the match, stay here. We will update you on all events worth talking about!
Team News
Walter Smith looks set to change his usual choice of formation for tonight’s match (CLDsport asks: is it a good idea to change to an unfamiliar formation in such an important match?). While Smith normally opts for a 4-1-4-1, BBC Sport reports that Rangers will play 4-2-3-1 with Hemdani and Kevin Thomson - who has passed a late fitness test - as holding midfield players.
Striker Daniel Cousin is suspended after his sending off against Fiorentina.
Zenit will be without their top scorer, Pavel Pogrebnyak - Zenit’s top scorer - is suspended after a booking in the semi-final.
Rangers Starting Line-Up: Alexander, Weir, Papac, Ferguson, Hemdani, Thomson, Darcheville, Broadfoot, Cuellar, Whittaker, Davis.
Subs: Graeme Smith, Boyd, Novo, Adam, Dailly, McCulloch, Faye.
Zenit Starting Line-Up: Malafeev, Krizanac, Tekke, Arshavin, Sirl, Shirokov, Zyryanov, Faitzulin, Aniukov, Denisov, Tymoschuk.
Subs: Contofalsky, Radimov, Kim, Dominguez, Ricksen, Ionov, Gorshkov.
Zenit St Petersburg coach Dick Advocat managed Rangers from 1998 to 2002 winning 2 league titles and 3 domestic cups in the process.
This is Walter Smith’s second stint as boss at Ibrox, and has led the club to seven league titles, three Scottish FA Cups and four Scottish League Cups in total.
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TV or Watch Live on Your Computer
ITV1 are showing the match live in the UK. Coverage starts at 7.30pm from the City of Manchester Stadium.
You can also download THIS SOFTWARE to watch the match live on your PC.
Live Coverage Below - Scroll down to read our text commentary as it happens. Refresh page to view latest…
4 Mins: Arshavin hits side netting with first chance of the final. Should have done better.
6 Mins: Ball cleared from Ferguson’s feet after ball played across penalty area. Excellent defending to deny Rangers an opener.
12 Minutes: Rangers start to wake up after a promising start from Zenit
18 Minutes: Neither team can create any good chances at the moment, and the game is a little scrappy. Certainly a good atmosphere though - and there are definitely goals in this game.
21 Mins: Zenit cross blocked - corner
22 Mins: Corner comes to nothing. Rangers need to get hold of the ball though, as Zenit keep coming back for more - and are looking dangerous
25 Mins: Seems Rangers were listening as they enjoy a good spell of possession. Going nowhere with it though - but at least they are calming things down a little
28 Mins: Decent save from Alexander after a Zenit shot from outside the box. Caught at second attempt - but easy enough
31 Mins: Another wasted corner from Zenit - ball lands on top of Rangers goal
34 Mins: Zenit really are looking dangerous. All they are missing is the killer ball. Rangers are defending resolutely, but need to get more involved
37 Mins: Whittaker loops a header over the Zenit bar after an excellent cross from Davis. Unfortunately for Rangers, Whittaker couldn’t quite get his head over the ball and direct it downwards
42 Mins: Rangers free kick in dangerous area after Darcheville bought down
43 Mins: Thomson hits it against the wall. Wasted free-kick.
45 Mins: Last action of the half sees Zenit win two corners in quick succession. Alexander punches first through a crowd, and catches the second.
Half-Time: Dick Advocat will surely be the happier of the two managers as his Zenit side have passed the ball well, and kept possession.
Rangers have struggled to get the ball out of their own half for the majority of the 45 minutes but have defended well so far.
You can’t help feeling though that the law of averages says that if Zenit carry on this way, Rangers can’t hold out forever.
Neither team has been outstanding, but Zenit have edged the first half.
52 Mins: Big chance for Rangers. Keeper makes a good save from Darchville. Rangers win it back in the box. Big appeals for a penalty after a handball. Zenit defender’s arm definitely made contact with ball - but would have been harsh as defender was close to ball when it was hit against him. Seen them given though. Resultant corner comes to nothing.
55 Mins: Replays show that the handball may have been more of a shout than first thought as the defender’s arm did move towards the ball slightly
57 Mins: Rangers chance has got the crowd going. Great atmosphere now
62 Mins: Rangers look much better and more competitive in the second half so far
63 Mins: Whittaker shot deflected just wide of the left post.
63 Mins: Papac clears off the line for Rangers as Zenit counter attack. Keeper makes a bad decision in coming out to meet ball. Beaten to it by Zenit attacker. Luckily Papac does brilliantly to get back on the line and clear
72 Mins: GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zenit St Petersburg 1 v 0 Rangers
Rangers ripped apart. Denisov played in perfectly and slots it clinically past Alexander
76 Mins: Zenit clip outside of post with what could have been the clincher
76 Mins: Papac makes way for Novo
80 Mins: McCulloch on for Hemdani. Looks like 4-3-3 formation now. Rangers have to go for it
84 Mins: Credit to Zenit. They are not sitting back and soaking up pressure - they are continuing to attack. Frustration for Rangers
86 Mins: Substitution - Boyd for Whittaker - final throw of the dice
90 Mins: 3 minutes of added time to be played
91 Mins: Novo hits it over in crowded box
93 Mins: GOAL!!!!!!
It’s all over for Rangers as Zenit make it 2-0 with a tap in
94 Mins:Goal was last kick of the match. Final whistle. 2-0.