FC Zenit Beats Fenerbahce in Europa League

Saint Petersburg Club advances to the knockout stage

Semak's side secures top spot in Group C

FC Zenit Saint Petersburg defeated Fenerbahce SK 3-1 on Thursday to secure top spot in Group C of the UEFA Europa League.

The Russian Premier League leaders took the lead through Sardar Azmoun in the 33rd minute, but Fenerbahce drew level through Diego Rossi just before half-time.

Zenit regained the lead in the 63rd minute through Claudinho, and Azmoun added a third in the 78th minute to seal the victory.

The win means that Zenit has won all six of their Europa League group stage matches this season, scoring 17 goals and conceding just two.

Fenerbahce, meanwhile, finished third in the group and will now enter the Europa Conference League knockout round play-offs.

Zenit will be seeded for the Europa League knockout round draw, which will take place on Monday 7 November.

The Russian club will be hoping to improve on their performance in last season's Europa League, when they were knocked out in the round of 16 by Villarreal.

Sergei Semak's side will be confident of making a deep run in this season's competition, having assembled a strong squad that includes the likes of Azmoun, Claudinho, and Wilmar Barrios.

Fenerbahce, meanwhile, will be disappointed to have missed out on a place in the Europa League knockout round.

The Turkish club has a proud history in European competition, having won the UEFA Champions League in 1967.

However, Fenerbahce has struggled in recent years to match their past successes, and they will now have to settle for a place in the Europa Conference League.