Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of Zenit St Petersburg's clash with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

The Germans are without a whole host of players for today's game with the likes of Simon Rolfes, Stefan Reinartz, Gonzalo Castro and Kyriakos Papadopoulos all out through injury. Meanwhile, Wendell is suspended.

Viktor Fayzulin is the only certain absence for Zenit although defender Igor Smolnikov is a doubt, and we'll have confirmation of the two teams shortly.

We're still awaiting official confirmation of the two lineups, but ahead of the game Zenit boss Andre Villas-Boas stated that he wanted to see an aggressive performance from his charges...

Victory for his team can be the catalyst for a charge towards the knockout stages, and the Portuguese boss wants to see his side dominate possession..

He told reporters ahead of the game: "As with the previous match, we have to keep in mind all of Leverkusen's strengths. In the first half [in Germany] we played well. Leverkusen exerted strong pressure and had more possession. We need to be more aggressive, to control the ball and the game."

Fayzulin is reportedly struggling with a knee complaint, but AVB interestingly stated that the midfielder was omitted due to his performance levels, and the Portuguese challenged the 27-year-old to prove himself worthy of a recall.

"We are demanding from him a little bit of improvement in his performance," the Zenit boss said. "We have spoken to him and he is aware and he will hopefully give us a good response and he already has and if he continues that way, he will definitely be in contention for the upcoming games."

Meanwhile, team news has reached us here, so without further ado...

Zenit: Anyukov; Criscito, Lombaerts, Garay; Shatov, Javi Garcia, Witsel, Danny; Hulk, Kerzhakov

Leverkusen: Leno; Donati, Toprak, Spahic, Jedvaj; Calhanoglu, Bender, Brandt, Son, Bellarabi, Kiessling.

So Ezequiel Garay starts for the home side, while Hulk and Alexander Kerzhakov are tasked with leading the line up top. It will be interesting to see the Brazil international in action this evening. He is one of football's biggest enigmas; capable of the outrageous, but all too often, the powerful forward is ineffective.

Hulk has been speaking to the media ahead of the game, and thinks that a home tie can be the difference between the two teams. He said: "The last time were were not lucky, but that's football and it happens. At home it's going to be easier with our fans and God willing, we hope to get three points here."

Zenit subs: Malafeev, Neto, Ryazantsev, Mogilevets, Tymoshchuk, Arshavin, Rondon.

Leverkusen subs: Kresic, Drmic, Hilbert, Oztunali, Boenisch, Kruse, Yurchenko.

Of course, AVB hasn't been the only one speaking to the press ahead of the game, Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt has been doing likewise, and the Bayer boss refused to use their domestic defeat against Hamburg at the weekend as a barometer for his side's chances in Russia...

A Rafael van der Vaart penalty condemned Leverkusen to a 1-0 defeat, but Schmidt believes that the result will have no baring on the Champions League clash today. He said: "Games in the Bundesliga and the Champions League are different – it makes no sense to compare them. We know Zenit are a great team. We also know Zenit are under pressure and that they need to win this game after losing in Germany."

"That [result] will have an impact on this match," he added. "We trained at home because it was more comfortable. Our performance in the first match against Zenit was as we had planned. My players showed strong individual skills and good team play."

Papadopoulos is a big loss for Leverkusen this evening. The Greece international defender is out injured with a shoulder problem and is not expected back until the New Year. The likes of Kerzhakov, Hulk and Danny will be relishing the prospect of his absence.

Elsewhere in Group C, Benfica host Monaco, and victory for Leverkusen would surely put them in pole position to qualify to the knockout stages with two games left to play after tonight's round of fixtures.

PREDICTION: Zenit 2-1 Leverkusen. I'll back the home side this evening as the Germans are without several of their big-name players and I think AVB's men are strong enough to get three points on their own turf.

We're around five minutes or so away from kick off here in today's early game. Don't forget we'll have live coverage of all the other Champions League games later this evening for when this one is done and dusted.

The two teams are on the pitch, so we're just going to run the formalities associated with the Champions League and then we're set for kick off...

KICK OFF! We're up and running then...

Shatov is down injured early on after taking a knock during a challenge. He seems to be OK now though. Lively start from both sides and a really good atmosphere.

Danny and Kerzhakov try to exchange passes on the half-way line with a quick counter in mind, but the former can't return to the ball to the Portuguese and looks really annoyed with himself after it.

Bellarabi with the first real sight of goal for either and he caught it well, but it was always going wide. Not a bad effort from the youngster though. Both teams seemed prepared to attack this evening.

Kiessling wins a header on towards Bellarabi on the half-way line as Bayer look to break quickly, but the latter is fouled and their quick free kick is brought back. Leverkusen certainly had numbers breaking forward there, they're not happy with being halted by the official.

CHANCE! Well not sure that's what Hulk meant but his free kick evades all inside the box and cannons back off the post. Leno was stranded and was relieved to it come back off the woodwork. Unlucky for the Brazilian forward, he really got some whip on that delivery.

Kiessling almost feeds Bellarabi but the latter just stays offside. Leverkusen were almost in there, but it is the correct decision. Both teams are definitely giving it a go here. Hulk's free kick the closest we have come so far to a goal though.

CHANCE! Danny's flick releases Kerzhakov who goes clean through but the Russia international is thwarted by Leno's save. Really good goalkeeping.

Hulk sends Kerzhakov through with a delightful ball with the outside of his foot and he's ably supported by Shatov, but a Leverkusen defender gets back to block a low cross. Zenit looking dangerous the more this game goes on...

The game has largely tailed off the last few moments, not a lot happening for either side.

There's an injury to a Leverkusen defender. Not too sure who it is at the moment, but the stretcher is on and it could be the end of the player's evening here..

It looks as though it is Spahic who has gone down. There is blood on his head, but luckily he's left the field of his own accord and is likely to resume shortly.

BOOKING! Danny goes in the book for cynically taking down Son who had covered around 25 yards with a powerful run through the middle. No complaints from the Portugal international.

Bellarabi tries a direct route down the line, but he can't quite get on the end of his own kick down the line after avoiding a challenge out wide. It goes harmlessly out for a goal kick.

A move almost comes off for Zenit as Danny feeds Shatov, but his flick can't quite find Hulk round the back post before Leverkusen clear.

Almost a chance for Zenit as Kerzhakov's free kick is headed down by Shatov, but Danny can't quite get on the end of the knock down before Leno gathers.

Hulk doesn't need much encouragement to shoot and he's just smashed in an effort from around 25 yards but it hits Danny on the head on goes harmlessly up into the sky. A sore one for Danny, for sure!

So not a whole lot to write home about in that first 45. Hulk inadvertently struck the post with an excellent free kick delivery, and Kerzhakov should have perhaps scored after going clean through, but other than that, there's been little to choose between these two.

Bernd Leno has certainly done well in goal for Leverkusen and Zenit were after a penalty when the ball hit Topak on the shoulder.

Not a whole lot in way of chances for Leverkusen. Hopefully there will be more the neutral to enjoy this second period. The two teams are back out..

KICK OFF No changes for either team and we're off and running...

Absolute waste from Son as Leverkusen get five vs three on the counter. He knows he should do better than firing over from 25 yards

Danny finds himself in a good position wide left but Toprak is back to stop him before Son takes it down the other end and wins a foul nearly the half-way line. Nice tempo to this second period so far, but we said that about the first. We shall see...

Both teams seem keen to press in numbers and it's quite intense at the moment. Surely both can't keep that up for the entire second period? That could lead to tired legs and more chances for either side.

Julian Brandt is off for Josip Drmic, so let's see what the Swiss striker can do then. It's a free kick to Leverkusen and then have possession in the Zenit half...

Bellarabi has an ambitious effort from 30 yards and it takes a deflection off a teammate and goes harmlessly out for a goal kick, another waste from a Leverkusen perspective.

Hulk almost squeezes in Danny with a through ball, but it's excellent defending from Leverkusen to snuff out the chance. You get the feeling that one of these incisive through passes could eventually lead to a big chance for Zenit though.

Well that was the exact opposite of what I meant! Danny has Hulk racing through down the right and he tried to lay him in and overhits the through ball which forces the Brazilian to chase it and eventually retrieve it with a fairly weak cross with his right foot. Poor play from Zenit skipper Danny.

Big decision from the official as Kerzhakov goes down after robbing Spahic of the ball. The Bosnian was the last man but it was inside the centre circle almost. It looks as though the Spanish referee got that one right by not awarding the foul.

The game is certainly more open now and Hulk's poweful run is halted by some excellent tracking from Bellarabi. The Brazilian is not happy and wants a free kick but there is nothing doing before Danny is flagged offside.

Another through pass once from Hulk almost sees Kerzhakov go through but Spahic does enough eventually as the striker loses his footing under the weight on the tackle, which was fair. Sooner or later though, one of these may come off for Zenit...

Boenisch is on for Jedvaj as Leverkusen make their second change of the evening.

Garay goes in the book after halting Bellarabi's strong run. The German dispossessed Danny around 30 yards out and embarked on a direct run at the heart of the Zenit defence, but the Argentina defender clearly barged him off the ball. Correct decision.

My word what a goal that is! A free kick sees it laid off to Kiessling who feeds the Korean with his back to goal and Son simply bends it first time into the top corner from all of 25 yards. Superb finish and what a set-piece that was. One from the training ground!

Hulk tries to respond with a typically powerful effort from all of 35 yards. It takes a deflection and goes out for a corner. He takes the resulting set-piece but it is cleared before Leverkusen win a free kick.

Wonderful football from Leverkusen completely opens up Zenit and Son races through. He manages to avoid the challenge from Criscito to coolly slot with his left foot inside the area. Superb move from the Bundesliga side.

Well it was Zenit who had the better chances, but Leverkusen, or more specifically Son, has been clinical with theirs. The first goal was an outstanding long-range effort, and the second was a composed finish. Is that game over? We shall see...

Outstanding tackle from Spahic to deny Hulk who was racing through at some speed. The Bosnian made the decisive tackle just on the edge of the box. It was one he had to get right and it was an excellent piece of defending.

Salomon Randon is one for Zenit, he has replaced Kerzhakov, but it's a tough ask for the incoming forward to try and affect this game now, Leverkusen are well in control as we head into the last 10 minutes.

Bellarabi and Shatov both go in the book for a bit of a coming together. There wasn't much in it but the official decided to give yellows to the pair. Zenit look forlorn now.

Leverkusen are happy enough to get men behind the ball and see this game out. Son breaks forward in a counter attack and wins a corner for his side...

The corner eventually comes to Spahic who gives it away, but Zenit cannot make the most of the break forward, although they win a free kick for a late challenge on Hulk that comes to nothing.

Andrey Arshavin comes on in place of Oleg Shatov, but the ex-Arsenal man will do well to make an impact here...

Lovely finish from Rondon as he latches onto a clip over the top from Arshavin to guide it beyond Leno insdie the area. Surely a comeback is not on the cards here?

Leverkusen have defended superbly all game, but they look to be shaken by that goal! Fair play to Villas-Boas, his subs have had the desired impact...

Leverkusen are retreating deep into their penalty area, as Robbie Kruse comes on for Kiessling. This is perhaps just to take the sting out of a late really from Zenit. Anyukov launches a long throw and there's some pinball before Leverkusen break, but Kruse's first touch is a header wide.

Drmic chases onto a long punt down the field before holding the ball up and winning a throw. Leverkusen are almost there...

Full time at the Petrovsky stadium and the home side will rue the miss from Kerzhakov in the first period. Heung-Min Son with two excellent finishes to win the game for the Bundesliga side, who were more clinical in front of goal.

Well that's all from me, there will be more live commentaries from Sports Mole from 7pm on the homepage. All Champions League games are included in our coverage. Until next time, bye for now...