RB Leipzig will look to Timo Werner to deliver the knockout blow as they head to Russia for their decisive UEFA Europa League last 16 second leg with Zenit Saint Petersburg on Thursday evening (kick-off: 19:00CET/18:00GMT/13:00ET).
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Werner – who became the youngest player in history to reach 150 Bundesliga appearances in Sunday’s 0-0 draw with VfB Stuttgart at 22 years and six days of age – enjoyed a goal and an assist in Leipzig’s 2-1 first-leg win last Thursday. A late free-kick from Zenit captain Domenico Criscito leaves the tie delicately poised, though. As long as Leipzig avoid defeat at the Krestovsky Stadium, however, they will qualify for the quarter-finals. Dayot Upamecano and Emil Forsberg were among those rested against Stuttgart, with coach Ralph Hasenhüttl expected to restore them to a full-strength XI as RBL seek to take their already impressive maiden European season another step further.
Zenit have slipped to fourth in the Russian Premier League in recent weeks, without a domestic goal scored in their last three games. RBL won’t take the Russians lightly, though: Roberto Mancini’s men have never lost at home in the Europa League, winning 17 of their 18 matches in Saint Petersburg. Midfielder Daler Kuzyaev is injured for the hosts, so veteran Yuri Zhirkov is expected to line up in his stead.
Watch: Leipzig's counter-attacking masterclass!
Probable line-ups
Zenit: Lunev – Ivanovic, Paredes, Criscito (c) – Erokhin, Zhirkov, Kranevitter – Zabolotny, Rigoni, Kokorin
Absentees: Mammana (knock), Kuzyaev (ankle)
Coach: Robert Mancini
Leipzig: Gulacsi – Bernardo, Orban (c), Upamecano, Klostermann – Forsberg, Demme, Keita, Bruma – Poulsen, Werner
Absentees: Halstenberg (knee), Kampl (knee), Lookman (ineligible)
Coach: Ralph Hasenhüttl
Match stats
Werner has scored five goals in his last three away continental outings for Leipzig.Leipzig became the 204th club to compete in the UEFA Europa League, group stage to final – and a record 17th from Germany – when they transferred over from the UEFA Champions League in the winter.Leipzig have never won back-to-back European games and are still to keep a clean sheet in nine European outings.Zenit's home record against German teams reads W2 D1 L5.Zenit defender Branislav Ivanovic was part of the Chelsea side that beat Bayern Munich in the final of the 2011/12 Champions League.The two clubs had never met in European competition before last week’s first leg.
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Source: bundesliga.com