Goooood afternoon everybody! Last night we saw Wolfsburg and Real Madrid become the first Champions League quarter-finalists this season and either Zenit or Benfica will become the third team of the last eight today. Early 5pm kickoff UK time as they're all the way out in Russia, so just under an hour to go at the Stadion Petrovski.

The temperature's hovering around the freezing mark in Saint-Petersburg today. Brrrr!

The Stadion Petrovski is surrounded by water on 3 sides - seams to be a mini iceberg floating on one side #UCL pic.twitter.com/oVB4dxxs7v

— Richard van P (@UEFAcomRichVP) March 9, 2016

Weather update: check. Team news: on its way now!

ZENIT XI: Lodygin; Anyukov, Lombaerts, Neto, Mauricio; Danny, Witsel; Hulk, Kokorin, Zhirkov; Dzyuba
Subs: Kerzhakov, Smolnikov, Garay, Ivanov, Yusupov, Shatov, Dolgov

BENFICA XI: Ederson; Fejsa, Semedo, Lindelof, Eliseu; Samaris, Sanches; Pizzi, Jonas, Gaitan; Mitroglou
Subs: Paulo Lopes, Silvio, Ruben Dias, Salvio, Jimenez, Goncalo Guedes, Talisca

OK then, both managers have made changes from the first leg last month. It was a bitty game in Lisbon that saw seven yellow cards and one red handed out, resulting in four players being suspended for this match. In fact, these two teams have picked up the most cards in the Champions League this season: 24 and 23 respectively.

Starting with the home side, Villas-Boas has made four changes to the team that started the first leg three weeks ago. Criscito was the man sent off and he is replaced by Mauricio at left-back, while in midfield Javi Garcia reached his yellow-card limit and is replaced by Kokorin. Elsewhere, centre-back Garay is not deemed fit enough to start, so Neto comes in, while further forward it's Shatov out and Zhirkov in.

Benfica also have two players - Almeida and Jardel - suspended and replacing them in the backline is Fejsa and Semedo. The other change is in goal, with Brazilian stopper Julio Cesar injured. Ederson comes in.

Need reminding of the first leg? Well there's not much to look back on. It was a tight game at the Stadium of Light that had very few clear-cut chances. The winning goal arrived in added time after Zenit full-back Criscito was sent off for a second booking by fellow Italian Gianluca Rocchi. From the resulting free kick, Jonas flicked home Gaitan's delivery - his 25th goal of the season - to give the Portuguese side the advantage going into the second leg.

Jonas was highlighted as the star-man before that match and although he had a pretty quiet game, he came up with the goods in the end. Since then, he has continued his hot streak with three goals in three games to reach 28 for the season already! 🔥🔥🔥

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Not a memorable first leg, but I'm hopeful that this match today will be different. Both teams have had to make several changes to their backline but not needed to tinker with their first-choice attacking midfield and strikeforce. That SHOULD help with the attacking intent of both teams!

How have the two teams been getting on since that first leg? I hear ya. Well, Benfica have been red-hot, winning all three matches since that last-gasp Jonas winner to make it 15 wins from 16 matches in all competitions. At the weekend they had a huge win in the Portuguese league, defeating Sporting 1-0 away from home in the Lisbon derby to overtake their rivals and go top of the table.

As for Zenit, the Russian Premier League only came out of winter hibernation at the weekend and Zenit drew 0-0 away at Krasnodar to drop to fifth in the table. They are nine behind leaders CSKA Moscow and six behind Rostov in second. Big second half of the season needed!

So if you take all that into account, you'd probably say that Benfica are favourites tonight. Zenit failed to grab an away goal in the first leg, meaning that if Benfica do so tonight the home side will need three goals to go through. However, Zenit have won all three of their home games in the Champions League this season, scoring seven and conceding only two. It's in the balance!

Extra time, and possibly penalties, will be required if Zenit come out on top 1-0 after 90 minutes, but that seems unlikely given that Benfica have scored in all seven of their games in the Champions League this season. Can AVB's boys get three if Benfica continue that trend? Gonna be difficult.

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These two teams have met once before in the knockout stages of the Champions League. It was in 2011-12 when Benfica edged it 4-3 on aggregate to go through to the quarter-finals, where they lost to eventual winners Chelsea.

That was the first of three occasions in the last five years that Zenit have reached the last 16. The Russian outfit have failed to advance to the last eight on the previous two occasions, so victory tonight would be an historic night for the club.

Just over 20 minutes to go now!

The teams are out and warming up #ZenSLB #UCL pic.twitter.com/b6ZNW6en9i

— FC Zenit in English (@fczenit_en) March 9, 2016

As mentioned, the referee in the first leg was very card-happy, so there are several players in danger of being suspended for the first leg of the quarter-final should they get booked and go through tonight. For Zenit, star trio Danny, Hulk and Witsel all need to be careful, while for Benfica in-form Jonas is also in danger as he was booked for his fervent celebration after heading home the winner three weeks ago.

A quick reminder about today's other Champions League match, which kicks off at the usual 7.45pm slot at Stamford Bridge. It should be a cracker between Chelsea and PSG, with the French side leading 2-1 after the first leg. Our coverage for that gets underway an hour beforehand, so be ready for that when it comes in a couple of hours 👍

STAT: Benfica have progressed in 46 of their 54 UEFA competition ties in which they have held a first leg lead. They should be pretty confident given their superb recent form, but will those defensive injuries hurt them. They've only got one fit senior out-and-out centre-back!

Time for some quotes from the two coaches. Here's what Villas-Boas has had to say in the build-up: "Benfica always play very compactly. They are good in combination play. It is always difficult to find space in how they set up defensively, but we must do that."

And here's Benfica coach Rui Vitoria: "We are not rivals with Andre. He's a great coach, one of the best in the world, who has done an excellent job at all his clubs, including Zenit. I always wish him the best of luck – except the match tomorrow perhaps! Our goal is always to win. We certainly have a lot to protect here, but we will not forget about attacking and trying to score a goal."

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PREDICTION: Really tough to call, this one. Zenit should be a different animal back at home in the cold conditions of Saint-Petersburg, but I can't see Benfica not scoring. I'll say 2-1 to Zenit, with Benfica going through on away goals!

Here we go! The two teams have just come out of the tunnel at the Petrovski Stadium. Led out by tonight's referee, Hungary's Viktor Kassai.

KICKOFF! Zenit, all in light blue, get us underway. Benfica in their usual colours of red tops and white shorts.

Slow start to the match, with both sides trading passes in midfield and not looking overly dangerous at all.

Here's a chance though! Benfica win a free kick on the left-hand side about 20 yards out. Good position this and Jonas wants it...

SAVE! Jonas curls it up and over the wall. It's dead-centre and Lodygin makes an acrobatic, if a little unnecessary save to push it over.

From the resulting corner, Jonas's header ricochets off a Zenit head and behind for another Benfica corner. Good early pressure from the Portuguese outfit.

In fact, four of Benfica's last seven Champions League goals have come from set-pieces, so they do tend to be dangerous from them.

CLOSE! First sight of goal for Zenit and the other end and it's so close to the opening goal. Dzyuba rolls past Samaris far too easily and then whacks the ball across goal and just past the post.

Well I'd say that as much as happened in the first eight minutes of this match as the entire first leg!

Probably jinxed it now though 😨

Really feels like a proper do-or-die contest so far. Both teams flying in to tackles and the Hungarian referee is trying to let them play as much as possible Good to see.

Lodygin saves a header from Jonas, but the whistle had already been blown for a foul on Anyukov in the middle.

SHOT! Jonas twists and turns outside the box before firing low at goal, with Lodygin making an easy save low to his right. The Benfica striker must be so confident given the season that he is having.

Zenit come forward down the right through Kokorin. His low cross is about to be gathered by Ederson, but Samaris decides to not take any risks and clears out for a corner. Nothing comes of it, though.

Reckless tackle from Kokorin on Gaitan down the left to give the visitors a free kick and another chance to swing it in...

Not a great ball in this time, but it somehow finds its way into the danger area and Zenit eventually survive as Kassai gives them a free kick for handball.

CLOSE! Oooof! So close! Benfica inches from that vital away goal as teenage midfielder Sanches sees a shot flash just past the post. It's been an excellent start by the visitors.

SAVE! End-to-end stuff! Zenit work a shooting opportunity with a succession of headers between Danny, Dzyuba and Hulk. It's Dzyuba who goes through on goal and Ederson does brilliantly to get to the ball and punch clear just as Dzyuba was about to lift it into the net.

Gaitan and Mauricio in action at the Petrovski Stadion

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Samaris was a bit sloppy at the back earlier, but he's just done really well to slide in and take the ball away from Zhirkov, who had beaten the offside trap and advanced into the area.

Samaris again with some good defending to clear Anyukov's dangerous low cross away. Zenit doing much better now after what was a really fast start by Benfica.

SHOT! Stand-in Benfica right-back Semedo tries to make a name fro himself with a long-range effort that Lodygin collects at the second attempt. Good strike, but too close to the keeper.

BOOKING! First yellow card of the match to Benfica's Mitroglou for a true striker's tackle on Mauricio.

CLOSE! The resulting free kick is a good 30 yards out and Hulk hits it well. It takes a slight nick off the wall and dips just wide of the post.

Semedo a little lucky to escape a booking there as he trips Hulk after the Brazilian had knocked the ball past him down the wing.

Hectic stuff as Zenit pile on the pressure with five minutes of the first half remaining. Danny, as he was in the first leg, is the Russian side's chief architect, but the Benfica backline is holding firm so far.

Jonas was really bright in the early stages, but both he and Benfica have gone a little quiet

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Two minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

As you were then, with Benfica still holding that narrow advantage from the first leg. That was much better than the cagey game three weeks ago and hopefully we'll see some goals in the second half. Back soon!

Everyone ready for the second 45? Benfica are still sitting pretty to go through but with the tie so finely poised, it really could go either way.

KICKOFF! Benfica get us back underway. No changes at the break from either manager.

Benfica haven't been winning at HT in any of their last 16 UEFA matches.

Second-half flourish? #UCL pic.twitter.com/d4PfyRcQdV — Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) March 9, 2016

Zenit are the ones chasing the game, but you'd have to say that they've got a pretty attacking side out already, so there aren't many changes that AVB can make to really help them going forward. If he was to make one, it'd probably be Shatov for Kokorin.

BOOKING! Pizzi into the book for protesting after Kassai gave a foul against him. Needless caution that.

Semedo fails to clear the ball in his own box after some good work down the left by Zhirkov. The ball drops Hulk's way, but Samaris gets in the way well. Samaris, usually a midfielder, has done well after a shaky start at centre-back.

CHANCE! Hulk's low cross makes its way to Dzyuba at the back post. He tries to take a touch before shooting, but Eliseu is there to make the tackle. The ball ricochets off the Zenit striker but loops into the air, making it easy for Ederson to save in the Benfica goal.

Mauricio shoots over from 25 yards when a pass would have been better. He had turned past about three Benfica players but instead of looking left or right he just shot and wasted a good opportunity.

ZENIT SUBS: Double change for the hosts. Shatov on for Kokorin as expected and also Smolnikov for Anyukov at right-back.

CHANCE! Glorious opening for Zenit! Hulk works a quick short corner and then crosses into the middle where substitute Smolnikov can only duff a shot straight at Ederson. Any decent contact there and it's a goal.

CHANCE! Good impact from both substitutes for Zenit so far. This time it's Shatov who surges in from the right before finding the run of Dzyuba. The ball gets caught a little under the striker's feet, but he still manages to get a shot off and blazes it over.

SAVE! Now Benfica go close! Jonas looks offside, but the flag stays down and he bears down on goal before Lodygin makes a strong save. Really opening up now.

Smolnikov with a whipped cross from the right that Ederson punches clear just ahead of Dzyuba. These two Zenit subs really have made a positive impact.

BENFICA SUB: Change up top for the visitors. Mitroglou off, Jimenez on.

We're all square in the tie! Zenit can count themselves a little lucky here as Zhirkov seemed to barge over Semedo before racing away down the left. Kassai played on and Zhirkov, you have to say, did really well to wait and wait before dinking into the six-yard box for Hulk to head home.

SAVE! A Benfica goal would swing the tie right back in their favour and they almost get one! Gaitan's cross is met by Lindelof and his looping header looks destined for the far corner until Lodygin claws it out.

Hulk scores his 17th Champions League goal and his first header. #UCL #ZenSLB — Infostrada Sports (@InfostradaLive) March 9, 2016

BENFICA SUB: It's Pizzi off, Salvio on for the visitors. As it stands, we'll be going to extra time!

Pretty frantic out there. Plenty of players might really tire should this go to extra time.

SAVE! Amazing stuff from Dzyuba as the lanky striker dribbles his way past several red shirts before being denied by Ederson.

ZENIT SUB: Final change from AVB as he takes off Mauricio for Yusupov.

Eliseu has a pop from distance for Benfica, but it was always going to be difficult to beat Lodygin from there. Easy save.

Benfica have surely booked their place in the last eight! Jimenez takes aim from about 30 yards and smashes an incredible shot that Lodygin tips onto the bar. Gaitan is following up and has the easy task of nodding home.

Because of the away-goals rule, Zenit now need two goals to get through. Surely Benfica have done it!

SHOT! Hulk tries to give Zenit late hope, but his shot is always rising and flies over the bar.

Into added time and Danny has just floated a cross too far ahead of Dzyuba and wide of the target. Zenit throwing everything forward, but it's not going to be enough.

BENFICA SUB: No goal for Jonas tonight and he comes off for Talisca.

Five minutes have been added on, by the way.

BOOKING! Hulk is cautioned. He would miss the next match, but Zenit aren't going through.

More drama late on as substitute Talisca puts it beyond any doubt. Kassai then blows his whistle straight away. It's all over!

FULL-TIME: ZENIT 1-2 BENFICA

BENFICA WIN 3-1 ON AGGREGATE TO REACH THE QUARTER-FINALS!

For the third time in five years, Zenit lose in the last 16 of the Champions League. At one point tonight it looked like they might go on and win, but Gaitan's late goal crushed them and it got even worse late on. Congratulations to Benfica, they're through to the quarter-finals!

Time for us to say goodbye, but why not now head this way for our in-depth coverage of the mouthwatering tie between Chelsea and PSG. Should be a belter, enjoy!