Champions League

[monks data]

Champions League | Round-Of-16

Feb 25, 2014 at 5pm UK

Zenit Zenit St Petersburg
2-4
Dortmund Borussia Dortmund

Shatov (57'), Hulk (69' pen.)

FT(HT: 0-2)

Mkhitaryan (4'), Reus (5'), Lewandowski (61', 71')

Kevin Kuranyi: 'Borussia Dortmund have advantage over Zenit St Petersburg'

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 25 February 2014

Former Germany striker Kevin Kuranyi believes that the ongoing winter break in Russia will give Borussia Dortmund the advantage in their Champions League tie with Zenit.

Dynamo Moscow striker Kevin Kuranyi has expressed his belief that the winter break in Russia will give Borussia Dortmund an advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie with Zenit St Petersburg.

Zenit will host Dortmund in the first leg this afternoon in what will be their first competitive fixture since a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Austria Vienna on December 11.

Dortmund, meanwhile, have been back in action for a month now following their own winter break, and Kuranyi, who spent almost a decade in the Bundesliga before moving to Russia, believes that their superior match fitness could be vital.

"That is a huge advantage for Dortmund. Zenit are still preparing for the season to restart and they'll almost have to shock themselves out of that," Kuranyi told the Bundesliga's official website.

"BVB are back into the groove in the Bundesliga, the players are ready and they'll have some rhythm. I think Dortmund have the edge. They're finding their rhythm again, whereas this game could catch Zenit unawares."

Dortmund finished as runners-up to German rivals Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season.