Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live commentary of tonight's Champions League Group C clash between AC Milan and Zenit St. Petersburg at the San Siro.
Milan are already through to the last 16, but Zenit can still secure a place in the Europa League.
The Russian side have struggled on the road in their Champions League campaign, losing both of their away games so far.
However, the Rossoneri are without a win at home in the group stage, with draws against Malaga and Anderlecht.
Zenit will need a better result than Anderlecht to seal third place in the group and go into the Europa League.
Please note that kickoff is at 7.45pm.
Good evening. Let's take a look at the teams...
Abbiati, De Sciglio, Acerbi, Zapata, Mesbah, Boateng, Flamini, Ambrosini, Bojan, Pazzini, Emanuelson
Malafeev, Anyukov, Alves, Lombaerts, Hubocan, Shirokov, Semak, Denisov, Witsel, Danny, Hulk
Zenit will surely be looking towards Hulk for goals this evening. The Brazilian international has four goals from 14 games since joining the Russian side at the start of the season.
It's a very different look AC Milan from the side that beat Anderlecht 3-1 last time out in the Champions League. Stephan El Shaarawy and Nigel de Jong are two of the players rested, with Milan already through to the last 16.
The Italians came out on top when the teams met in the reverse fixture in October, a Tomas Hubocan own goal giving Milan a 3-2 win.
It's a chilly night in Milan, the temperature at the San Siro is a bracing 0°C.
Fabio Capello is in the crowd tonight. There could be split loyalties for the former England boss, who is currently the manager of Russia's national side but has also had several stints managing Milan.
The crowd is looking rather sparse this evening, plenty of empty seats in the San Siro
The teams are making their way onto the pitch.
The players shake hands and take up their positions. We're just moments from kickoff.
AC Milan get the game underway.
Zenit start aggressively, but are unable to get a cross into the box, Milan clearing the ball for a throw in.
Corner for AC Milan. Malafeev comes off his line to punch the ball away.
PENALTY SHOUT AC Milan appeal for a penalty after Danny bundles into a brace of Milan players. The ref sees nothing wrong with the move, and play continues.
It's end-to-end stuff at the moment. Both sides look keen for an early goal, but neither are able to keep possession of the ball.
Another corner for AC Milan. Mesbah's kick is poor, and it's an easy clearance for Zenit.
Zenit are looking to get the ball to Hulk. The Brazilian looks to get on the end of a ball into the box, but Zapata gets in the way and clears.
Emanuelson takes a shot from the edge of the box, but the strike is deflected wide. Corner for AC Milan.
AC Milan are starting to keep possession, and are looking threatening in front of goal. The Italians definitely look the more likely to score at the moment.
CHANCE Denisov gets the ball on the edge of the Milan box. However, he fails to spot Danny wide open and takes the shot himself, dragging the ball high of the crossbar.
Hulk is starting to look lively too. It's hard to gauge which side is on top on the moment.
Another corner for AC Milan. The ball falls to Zapata, but the Colombian's header is off target.
AC Milan look desperate for a goal, some ambitious efforts from distance for the home side at the minute.
Zenit look messy at the back. They're letting Milan get their shots away too easily. Milan, meanwhile, look well organised defensively.
CHANCE: The ball falls to Pazzini at close range for Milan, but Malafeev is ready for it, and makes a comfortable save.
GOAL! Milan 0-1 Zenit (Danny)
The ball is loose in the box and Danny blasts the ball through the Milan defenders and under Abbiati to give the visitors the lead. Quality finish from the Zenit captain.
Milan are on the attack. They've had twice as many shots as Zenit, and seem aggrieved to be behind.
Yet another corner for Milan. They take the ball deep to Boateng on the edge of the area, but the former Portsmouth man didn't seem ready and failed to get the shot away.
CHANCE: Flamini follows up with a thunderous strike. Malafeev makes the save, which will surely have left his palms stinging.
Nicolas Lombaerts picks up the game's first yellow card, but makes amends by clearing the resulting free kick.
AC Milan 0-1 Zenit St. Petersburg
AC Milan may feel a little hard done by. They had the majority of the chances in the opening period, but Vyacheslav Malafeev is looking sharp in goal for Zenit.
As it stands, a 1-0 victory would send Zenit in to the Europa League, as Malaga are currently beating Anderlecht by the same score.
The home side will be looking to improve their accuracy in front of goal in the second half. Five of their eight first-half efforts were off target.
Milan are back on the pitch and raring to go, while Zenit are making the most of their break.
The Russian side are finally making their way down the tunnel at a rather leisurely pace.
Both teams are on the pitch and in position, and we're back underway.
Bad start to the second half for Hulk. He's been booked in the opening seconds for handling the ball.
It's been a quiet opening few minutes to the second half. Zenit are looking stronger in defence than before the break, while Milan have yet to string a good attacking move together.
Anyukov gets into a great position for Zenit but loses control of the ball in the box, and Milan clear.
CHANCE: Boateng has a great chance for the equaliser. Malafeev is unable to get hold of the ball, but Anyukov is back to clear off the line. Milan's best chance of the game so far.
In the other game in Group C, Anderlecht have equalised against Malaga. Zenit will need to keep pushing to make sure they keep hold of third place in the group.
Flamini becomes the first AC Milan player to receive a yellow card after raising his arm in a tackle.
CHANCE: The visitors almost doubled their advantage as Hulk gets a fantastic chance on his left foot, but the ball drifts wide.
Malaga are back ahead. If the group C games finished now, Zenit would be in the Europa League.
SUBSTITUTION: Mesbah makes way as Robinho comes on for Milan.
Robinho's introduction has an immediate impact, Milan are looking dangerous at the minute.
The tempo of the game has slowed a little. Zenit are trying to run down the clock already, passing the ball between the back four and the keeper.
Zenit are on the break, Danny leading the charge with a run down the wing. However, Milan are too organised at the back, and Zenit can't find a way into the box.
CHANCE: The ball is crossed into the box for Bojan, but the forward loses his footing and is unable to get a shot away.
SUBSTITUTION: Zenit take Hulk off, replacing him with Konstantin Zyryanov.
SUBSTITUTION: A change for Milan too. Flamini goes off, Stephan El Shaawary takes his place.
Zenit boss Luciano Spalletti and Hulk appear to be having a heated exchange on the sidelines. The Brazilian doesn't look happy at being taken off early.
From nowhere, Robinho creates a chance and takes a shot. The ball curls inches wide. Time is running out for Milan to find an equaliser.
El Shaawary was nearly the perfect super sub for Milan, but like so many of his teammates' efforts tonight, the effort is off target.
Alves and Robinho get into a little scuffle following a robust tackle from the Portuguese defender. Alves wins the ball, but receives a yellow card for the two-footed nature of the challenge. Robinho is also booked for his reaction.
Milan's finishing touch is going to cost them here. The home side have had so many close-range chances, but have rarely called Malafeev into action.
There will be five minutes of stoppage time.
Danny and Denisov team up in a brilliant move as Zenit look to seal the win, but Abbiati's lightning fast reactions keep the ball out of net, and Milan clear.
A replay shows that Hulk refused to shake his manager's hand after being substituted. Hulk? More like Sulk!
AC MILAN 0-1 ZENIT ST. PETERSBURG
Zenit claim their first win on Italian soil, and secure their place in the Europa League.
Milan undoubtedly had the most chances, but lacked accuracy, and the visitors made them pay.
Thanks for joining Sports Mole this evening. Stick around for all the reaction from this evening's matches, and join us again tomorrow for more Champions League action. Good night.
Written by
Sian Cowper
Sian Cowper
