Exit looms for Zenit after Juve stalemate

UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg are on the brink of Champions League elimination after failing to break down Juventus in a 0-0 draw here on Tuesday.

The Russians needed to beat the Italians to ensure they would have the chance to progress to the knock-out rounds in two weeks time when they play their final Group H match away to Real Madrid.

A Madrid win away to Belarus minnows BATE Borisov later on Tuesday will eliminate Zenit and send them back into the UEFA Cup.

Juve meanwhile closed in on securing top spot in the group, and a more favourable second round draw, and need only a point in the final group game at home to Borisov to ensure they finish first.

The Russians dominated the ball in the first half but it was the Italians who came closest to scoring, hitting the woodwork twice.

Sweden defender Olof Mellberg was first to clip the outside of the post as he rose highest on the edge of the six-yard box to meet a free-kick from Mauro Camoranesi on 10 minutes.

By then Vincenzo Iaquinta had missed a great chance, heading over a Camoranesi cross when unmarked.

And it was the Italian forward who was next to rattle the frame of the goal on 22 minutes as he met a cross from full back Christian Molinaro 12 yards out after good interplay between Molinaro and Pavel Nedved.

For all Zenit's neat approach play, Juve were solid at the back and the Russians rarely opened them up.

Anatoliy Tymoschuk finally forced Juve goalkeeper Alex Manninger into a sprawling save from a fierce free-kick on 39 minutes and from the resulting corner Zenit had the ball in the net, only for it to be disallowed for offside.

The corner was semi-cleared but the ball fell to Tymoschuk who fired it back into a crowded penalty area. The ball ricocheted off a defender to Igor Denisov who slotted home, only to see the linesman raise his flag.

Two white shirts had been standing in an offside position when Tymoschuk shot but Denisov was not one of them.

Juve continued to enjoy the better chances at the start of the second half and Alessandro Del Piero should have scored from six yards out but put Iaquinta's cross wide.

Midway through the half, though, Zenit had a great opportunity of their own on the counter-attack but Portuguese midfielder Danny dallied his shot too long and allowed Claudio Marchisio to block.

Moments later Pavel Pogrebnyak hit the post with a shot from distance with Manninger beaten as Zenit stepped up the pressure.

Eight minutes from time Zenit opened up Juve down the left but Danny poked a shot with the outside of his right boot just wide of the far post.

Juventus had to survive a few hairy moments late on, not least when everyone missed Radek Sirl's inswinging cross that Manninger had to palm away but the Italians held on for the draw.