Hello and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Zenit St Petersburg v Benfica, set to kick off at 5pm UK time but subject to a late pitch inspection due to the freezing weather in Russia.

Thanks for joining me for a cracking match - the second leg in Lisbon is in three weeks. I'm covering Arsenal's trip to Milan next, so join me for that.

There it is - 3-2, Zenit winning a highly-entertaining clash but only just. Phew.

Nolito cuts in from the left, he shoots and deflected off Anyukov and almost sails over the hapless Zhevnov but he just about readjusts to hold on!

BENFICA SUB: Gaitain comes off for Saviola I think.

Well that was a bizarre pair of minutes. Sorry, it was Pereira not Luisao. He tried to clear with his wrong foot, completely shanking it and leaving Artur helpless.

GOAL ZENIT! Straight from kick-off and Luisao with a dreadful mistake this time, mis-hitting the ball and Artur can't claim so Shirokov gets his second from a tight angle!

GOAL BENFICA! Cardozo with a close-range finsh but another howler from Zhevnov. Terrible as he spills a weak low ball into the area, easy goal for Cardozo.

Now Faizulin on the move but he's robbed by Aimar of all people.

Zenit come again but Semak is unable to meet the through ball.

Yeah the replay shows no contact with his face, he was just play-acting.

Pereira is down hurt, possibly buying some time. It's so cold, so very cold...

Faizulin is down holding the side of his head but a quick rub and he's okay. Drop ball, knocked back to the Zenit defence.

Poor ball from Aimar though, and Zenit clear - Benfica come again but Lombaerts does well to hold them off and it's a goal kick.

Benfica trying to force the issue here and have a free-kick on the right.

Kerzhakov with another effort, a header from the edge of the box, but easy for the keeper.

Another corner to Zenit on the left, Benfica don't clear it and the ball drops to KERZHAKOV but he drills it into the side netting! Tight angle, and given the number of blue shirts in there he maybe should have crossed!

BENFICA SUB: Nolito comes on for Cesar.

The delivery causes a few problems as Alves flies in but in the end the whistle goes for a foul.

Alves, the only Portuguese on the pitch, will take this for Zenit - off the wall and over. Corner.

Aimar collides with an opponent, is booked and will miss the second leg. I can't see what he did wrong there. Maybe the ref though his arm was raised.