Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Borussia Dortmund: 6 Things We Learned
Borussia Dortmund took a massive step towards qualification for the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday as they earned a 4-2 victory against Zenit St. Petersburg in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Marco Reus put the visitors 2-0 ahead within five minutes. And although the Russians twice managed to pull a goal back, each time BVB responded by restoring their two-goal lead.
The result was important for a BVB side that on Saturday lost 3-0 to Hamburg, and Jurgen Klopp's men will be pleased with the result if not their performance overall.
Click Begin Slideshow for a round-up of the game's most important talking points.
Winter Break a Huge Problem for Russian Teams
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From the beginning of Tuesday's match, Zenit looked to be a team desperately short of match practice. And indeed, the Russian Premier League leaders hadn't played a competitive fixture since Dec. 11.
The Russian Premier League's traditional winter break began 10 days prior and is scheduled to run until March 6.
The winter in Russia is cold and, of course, does not lend itself to playing football outdoors in January or even February. Yet the Champions League is played on a calendar that is meant to suit teams from all European countries, an impossible task.
It's a big problem for teams from Russia and other northern countries to have to compete in international matches without having had more than a few friendlies to prepare.
It also is a problem for visiting teams that they may have to visit Russia at a time of year that the Russian Premier League considers the weather unsuitable for football. Tuesday's match was played under unseasonably warm conditions (temperature at kick-off was 37 degrees Fahrenheit), but the match—as many Europa League fixtures have—could easily have been scheduled to take place during a blizzard.
The Russian Premier League would be wise to consider changing its schedule, perhaps to include one or two matchdays played in February in a warmer climate, giving players a chance to find their form. Otherwise, embarrassments like Tuesday's may continue.
Reus the Hero Is Back
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Marco Reus carried Dortmund through the months of August, September and October, but the Germany international ran out of steam in the latter stages of the first round and Dortmund's form took a nose-dive.
BVB have had to do without Reus as of late due to a muscular injury; the 24-year-old only returned to action on Saturday in a substitute's role against Hamburg.
He struggled in that match, clearly not back up to speed after his layoff. It therefore was somewhat of a surprise that Klopp opted to start him and not the red-hot Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on Tuesday. But the trainer's decision proved the right one.
Reus made a phenomenal run to set up Henrikh Mkhitaryan's opener and scored with a sumptuous volley shortly thereafter. Within five minutes, he silenced those who had questioned Dortmund after the Hamburg loss.
Result Far More Impressive for Dortmund Than Performance
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Although the result may be remembered as a resounding success, Dortmund have played far better games this season than they did on Tuesday. Zenit were still in winter hibernation when BVB struck twice, changing the entire tie.
After the early flurry, BVB weren't particularly sharp. They had precious little to offer in the attacking third and made a few careless errors in midfield.
It perhaps is easy to lose focus after going ahead and, to their credit (unlike in Marseille in December), Dortmund were clinically efficient in taking their chances.
Tuesday's result was more a matter of Zenit capitulating than Dortmund playing their most irresistible football. But greatness isn't always needed to succeed and the visitors won't complain. They've put a foot into the quarter-finals and can be satisfied by the result.
Dortmund Brought on Danger on Their Own
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Dortmund fans will be quick to mention that Zenit's first goal should have been called back for offside and the penalty that led to the second should never have been awarded, but BVB looked fragile throughout the match and perhaps deserved to concede.
For Zenit's first, Sokratis Papastathopoulos foolishly and carelessly lost the ball in his own half and was duly punished. And BVB's general sloppiness perhaps justified their conceding a second, if not the penalty itself.
It was Sokratis' error that directly led to Zenit's goal, but Dortmund as a whole seemed to have fallen asleep from the time they went 2-0 ahead until Oleg Shatov pulled one back for Zenit.
BVB seemed to regain their composure afterward but gave the opportunity for the whistle to blow for a penalty. Dortmund were able in both instances to strike back quickly, but that will not be an option against better teams. BVB must improve their focus.
Lewandowski a Class Above
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Reus aside, Robert Lewandowski appears to be on a whole different level compared to his teammates.
Dortmund had problems in midfield and defense on Tuesday, but it was the attack that saw them to victory—when it wanted to.
Although not particularly dangerous in the first half, Lewandowski stepped to the fore each time Zenit scored. He brilliantly began and finished the move that put BVB 3-1 ahead and coolly slotted in the goal that brought the score to 4-2.
Lewandowski has drawn some criticism for not always playing at his best this season, but on Tuesday he showed that he's ever ready to make the difference when it matters most.
Hulk's Individualism Costs Zenit
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Zenit had few chances to exploit a less-than-assured Dortmund defense, and that in part can be attributed to Hulk's rather selfish play.
The Brazilian is undoubtedly Zenit's biggest star and most dangerous player, but his insistence upon taking on opponents by himself is a problem for Zenit.
The Brazilian repeatedly opted either not to pass or to try a risky yet flashy ball to his teammates. And he took nearly every set piece, no matter how many badly missed their intended target.
Hulk was more of an entertainer; Zenit need a footballer.
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