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.

Good defending by Luisao as Shirokov and Semak combined on the edge of the box.

Zenit, who have started this half quietly, come forward in numbers but a poor ball by Shirokov on the right goes back to Artur.

Gaitan on the move but he can't get it through to Cardozo. All the way back to Artur now.

Another free-kick to Benfica, this time on the right. Aimar again to take but a poor low ball once more and cleared.

... Poor from Aimar. He drills it low and weak and into the first man.

Aimar draws a foul on the Benfica centre-left. Free-kick that he will take...

Loose touch from Kerzhakov out to touch for a Benfica throw. Spalletti annoyed at that.

Semak with an early touch and his shot flies high and wide.

The second half is underway!

ZENIT SUB: Semak is coming on, the veteran playmaker. Zyryanov off. Benfica have not come out yet..

It has dropped to minus 15 celsius. Yikes!!

Decent match this: started slowly but has become end-to-end as the players warm to the conditions. What do you think? Have your say on Twitter @Reda_Eurosport.

A short corner does not come off and it is half-time - great fun given the cold and pitch, 1-1 and fairly even although Zenit at hosts making more of the running.

Denisov wide to Anyukov, who is fine now, and a corner is won by Faizulin off Garay.

Cynical trip by Cesar on Denisov. Yellow card.

Cesar plays it in, the ricochet drops to Gaitan but he mis-hits it and Lombaerts clears.

Down the other end Witsel is in but his low drive is wide! Well wide in the end.

HOW DID THEY NOT SCORE? Zyryanov inexplicably goes across the face of goal with it gaping after Artur was stranded following a devastating counter! He was at an angle but should have tried t a finish.

Cardozo heads the free-kick clear. Good defending from the striker.

Kerzhakov gets a hand in the face from Luisao, overreacting a tad but there was a rugby-style hand-off. Silly as he was shielding the ball by the touchline.

Daisy cutter from Aimar but weak and easy for Zhevnov this time.