At 2:45 p.m. ET today Zenit will try to hang on to their No. 2 spot in UEFA Champions League Group G when they take on the bottom side in the group, Austria Vienna, in a match at Ernst Happel Stadium that can be live streamed by clicking this link.
FC Porto could surpass Zenit with a victory today, but they must get past Atletico Madrid, one of the top teams in the entire Champions League. Zenit managed a draw with Atletico, so taking care of business against Austria should be attainable.
"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," said defender Nicolas Lombaerts.
"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."
Zenit will be bolstered by their strong showing against Atletico, and fueled by the motivation that comes with failing to get past the group stage a year ago. "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" Lombaerts said.
"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 is desperate to snap a three-match home losing streak, and coach Nenad Bjelica said "we will try everything" to end it. Defensively they must tighten up as they've posted a minus-nine goal differential.
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