Zenit managed to break the deadlock in the first half thanks to a strike from Alexander Ryazantsev. However, Sevilla managed to turn things around and substitutes Denis Suarez and Carlos Bacca proved to be key - both players scored and managed to mount a comeback for Sevilla as they defeated the Russian side by a 2-1 score, a result that looked highly unlikely based on what happened in the first half.
It wasn't the best game for Sevilla, at least in the first half. The manager opted to field a more athletic side with Banega as an attacking midfielder and Kevin Gameiro up top, flanked by the speed of Reyes and Vidal on left and right, respectively. It was a risky bet considering that Zenit is physical but also rather quick on the defensive end but the strategy seemed to work in the initial 15 minutes where Sevilla moved the ball around with ease. However, they weren't able to create any kind of danger.
Zenit took advantage of Sevilla's lack of firepower and started to move their lines forward, particularly through the left flank where Anyukov was a constant threat. The left-back had the first clear chance with a cross that found Oleg Shatov in the 15th minute but his effort went straight to Rico's hands. The Russian side created another decent chance three minutes later and Anyukov was involved once again. The left back swung a curling cross into the box and even though Rondon wasn't able to reach for the ball, Ryazantsev was there to nod the ball home but his attempt went inches wide when the keeper was already beaten.
Sevilla kept trying to generate chances but their efforts weren't accurate enough to create anything of note. Reyes and Banega had some decent runs, but Gameiro was never able to break free so Lodygin didn't have a lot of work. On the other end, Rico was particularly active and he was finally beaten in the 29th minute. Alexander Ryazantsev made an interesting run on the left flank and no one went past him as he moved into the box. The midfielder tried to put a cross into the box but the rebound fell to him and he took the chance, powering the ball into the roof of the net leaving Rico helpless.
Sevilla tried to improve their play in the final minutes but they weren't able to show anything different. Vicente Iborra and Ever Banega tried to create some chances with their passing and some long-range efforts but they couldn't do much and the first half ended with a 1-0 lead for Zenit.
The hosts tried to shake things up after halftime with two subs: Denis Suarez and Stephane M'Bia replaced Coke and Iborra respectively in order to add more pace and creativity on the offensive side of the ball. The entrance of Suarez on the left wing moved Reyes to the right and Vidal to the right-back role while M’Bia played as the anchor in midfield next to Krychowiak. The substitutions worked as the Spaniards played with a more attacking approach in the beginning of the second 45 minutes.
Denis Suarez looked very active since his introduction at the start of the second half and Reyes looked much more comfortable on the right. However, Zenit’s defensive line did a good job of closing the spaces out and they only limit the danger to a few crosses that were controlled easily by Lodygin. The Russian side adopted to use a counter-attacking approach looking to take advantage of the speed of Ryazantsev – who was the team’s most dangerous player overall - and Rondon’s strength up top
As minutes ticked off the clock, Sevilla started losing the ball and Zenit appeared to grow more and more comfortable on the pitch moving the ball from side to side on their defensive zone and adding pace when they had enough space in the final third. The clock had not quite reached the 60th minute mark when Axel Witsel and Ryazantsev had clear chances to score with shots from outside the box but Rico was excellent to parry the ball away on both occasions.
Carlos Bacca entered the game in the 64th minute as he replaced Kevin Gameiro who played poorly and the Colombian striker’s presence allowed Sevilla to play with a more attacking approach. After two chances created by Kolodziejczak and M’Bia, Bacca left his mark only nine minutes after coming in. Following a series of balls into the box, Aleix Vidal put a lobbed cross into the six-yard box and Bacca nodded the ball home to equalize the match.
Sevilla kept pushing the ball forward and they monopolized the possession in the final 20 minutes. Sevilla attacked constantly through both flanks and they mustered plenty of crosses that had some danger - Krychowiak put a bicycle kick over the roof of the goal and a cross from Banega was only inches away from being tapped by Bacca before Lombaerts cleared the ball from his six-yard box.
Zenit wasn’t able to offer a lot going forward as they realized that the draw was a positive result, all things considered. Andre Villas-Boas introduced Dzhamaldin Khodzhaniyazov and Anatoliy Tymoschuk looking to add strength to the midfield zone and even though Sevilla continued to move the ball forward, the Spaniards struggled to find spaces in the final third until Denis Suarez had the final saying: the winger unleashed a fierce volley that went straight past Lodygin to send the fans into raptures as Sevilla managed to complete a comeback that looked highly improbable in the first 45 minutes.
Sevilla had the better chances in the second half and the substitutions made by Unai Emery proved to be the changing moment of the game. All things considered, Sevilla was the better side and the result was completely fair.