3 things we learned from Zenit and Monaco’s drab 0-0 draw

Zenit St. Petersburg and AS Monaco surprised with their opening round wins, setting up a battle for top of their UEFA Champions League group on Wednesday. They failed to live up to increased expectations, instead looking like the teams everyone anticipated they’d be coming into the competition. Both sides were awful in a 0-0 draw.

Very little of consequence occurred in the first half, and a 0-0 draw at the break was more than a just result. Not a ton more action went on after the break, but both teams at least had some decent chances to score.

The best opportunity of the night fell for Zenit striker Solomon Rondon in the 50th minute, but he failed to capitalize. Hulk set him up with a gorgeous square ball that he should have smashed over the line from 12 yards, but he barely made contact with the ball and gifted Danijel Subašić.

Monaco substitute Yannick Ferreira Carrasco brought some life to the game after he entered for Dimitar Berbatov, and he produced his side’s best scoring chance in the 73rd minute with a great individual effort. He skinned his man on the right flank, then produced a save from Yuri Lodygin, followed by a shot off the post on the rebound.

Despite those chances, neither team scored, and a 0-0 draw was ultimately a very deserved result for both sides.

Zenit: Lodygin, Criscito, Lombaerts, Garay, Anyukov (Arshavin 88’), Garcia, Faizulin, Danny, Shatov (Smolnikov 66’), Hulk, Rondon (Kerzhakov 75’)

Goals: None.

Monaco: Subasic, Kurzawa, Carvalho, Raggi, Fabinho, Toulalan, Kondogbia, Moutinho (Bakayoko 90’), Ocampos (Germain 80’), Berbatov (Ferreira Carrasco 52’), Dirar

Goals: None.

1. AVB gonna AVB - In classic Andre Villas-Boas fashion, his team passed the ball well, but looked too rigid and their off the ball movement was very static. Even though they looked the better team for most of the game, they didn’t create much, which is pretty typical for his teams against decent and/or defensive opposition.

2. This result is fine for both teams - Thanks to their surprise wins on the first match day, they’re sitting pretty on four points apiece and will feel good about qualifying for the knockout rounds going forward, despite their drab performances on Wednesday.

3. We need smelling salts before the late games - This was very, very bad and boring.