RB Leipzig travel to Russia to take on Zenit St Petersburg in what is a crucial meeting at the top of Group G in the Champions League.
Leipzig are flying high in the Bundesliga's top four and are sitting pretty on top of the group after earning a crucial win over Zenit in their last meeting in Germany.
Zenit can hardly afford a defeat with Lyon and Benfica both in the hunt in what is one of the most competitive groups in the entire competition. Follow all the latest updates below:
Hello and welcome to The Independent's coverage of RB Leipzig vs Zenit St Petersburg, as the race to qualify for the knockout stages in Group G hots up. Here is how the group looks ahead of tonight's matches:
RB Leipzig 6 pts 0 gd
Zenit St Petersburg 4pts 1gd
Lyon 4pts 1gd
Benfica 3pts -2gd
Zenit St Petersburg 4pts 1gd
Lyon 4pts 1gd
Benfica 3pts -2gd
Here are the XIs for the early kick-off in St Petersburg, and there is only a place on the bench for Timo Werner as a precuation:
RB LEIPZIG: Gulácsi; Klostermann, Upamecano, Mukiele, Halstenberg; Laimer, Nkunku, Demme, Sabitzer; Poulsen, Forsberg.
ZENIT: Kerzhakov; Smolnikov, Ivanovic, Rakitskiy, Douglas Santos; Ozdoev, Osorio, Barrios, Erokhin; Azmoun, Dzyuba
RB Leipzig have had an entertaining week, to say the least.
Two victories, 14 (yes FOURTEEN goals) scored and the sense that RB Leipzig are really starting to tick in domestic games.
The challenge remains for them to replicate it in St Petersburg to give them some daylight in the group, and the key to doing that could be Timo Werner.
The German has scored five times in the last two games as his side beat Wolfsburg 6-1 in the Pokal and then hammered Mainz 8-0 at the weekend.
But he is on the bench this evening with a muscle problem.
Formidable form then from Leipzig, but what about Zenit?
Well, their draw at home to CSKA Moscow at the weekend saw them extend their lead at the top of the Russian Premier League to three points.
It was a result that Sergei Semak however would have been disappointed with given that his side were facing 10 men for the majority of the second half.
But slow and steady usually wins the race, no?
This should give you an idea just how well Timo Werner has been doing in Germany... and what his side will miss from the start tonight.
It may be a group that lacks a real star name in it, but Group G is turning out to be one of the more fascinating groups in the Champions League this season.
Benfica have lost two of their three games in Europe this season and sit bottom of the group, but remain only three points behind Julian Nagelsmann's men.
A group that every one of Leipzig, Lyon, Zenit and Benfica would have fancied when the draw was made, it is one that is still wide as we head into matchday four.
The stage is set.
The reverse fixture of this one took place on matchday three, and it was the Bundesliga outfit that eventually came out on top.
Yaroslav Rakitsky gave the Russian side the lead but second-half goals from Konrad Laimer and a belter from Marcel Sabitzer helped Leipzig turn it around
He may not be starting this evening, but the Werner stats keep coming
All set for the action to begin in St Petersburg.
It is one Zenit cannot afford to lose...
1min: We are underway in St Petersburg!
Who will come out on top in this crunch match?
4 min: Leipzig are zipping the ball about nicely here so far and have dominated the opening exchanges.
They do however need to be careful on the break as they are committing a lot of men forward, but Emil Forsberg has looked excellent already.
6min: That was a lovely move from Leipzig.
Forsberg gets down the left and plays a precise ball in field. Poulsen dummies it and leaves it for Sabitzer, who puts too much on the pass which would have put the Dane through to score.
Good chance!
8min: Leipzig have tested Kerzhakov here, but he makes two comfortable saves from Konrad Laimer and Poulsen, the former having the better chance afer another excellent move.
Nagelsmann's men means business here even without Werner.
I reckon he fancies a run out...
12min: Nkunku is making his full Champions League debut tonight after his brilliant strike against Mainz at the weekend and he wins a free-kick for his side here.
Halstenberg delivers the set piece and Kerzhakov does not convince with his clearance which goes out for a corner, which is then claimed by the Zenit keeper.
16min: More VAR drama as technology rules out another goal.....
It starts with poor defending from the hosts, who don't do enough to close down the German Halstenberg and although it isn't the cleanest strike it is good enough to beat the keeper.
But VAR gets involved and the referee has gone over to have a look for a potential handball on Nkunku... and the decision of a goal is overturned.
Premature celebrations...
21min: Zenit have been non-existent in the game so far in an attacking sense while the likes of Forsberg and Nkunku have been really bright for the visitors.
But here is an attack, but Dzyuba's slowness and excellent defending from Klostermann snuffs out the danger.
It was a harsh decision to rule out Halstenberg's goal, but Leipzig have been on top so far.
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