Zenit signs off pre-season with 3-1 win over Crvena Zvezda

Zenit put on a show for 30,000 fans at their home stadium on Sunday, defeating Serbian champions Crvena Zvezda 3-1 in the Winline Super Series.

Alexander Sobolev opened the scoring from the penalty spot at 20th minute. Then, Roman Vega doubled the lead with a stunning strike in the 61′, before substitute Felipe Augusto made it 3-0 twelve minutes later. Crvena Zvezda striked back with Mohammad Abu Fani’s goal at the 81′.

Remarkably, defender Milan Eraković, who left Zenit for Belgrade this summer, faced his former club for the first time.

Zenit and Crvena Zvezda first met in 2004 in the UEFA Cup, and since 2022 their pre-season meeting has become an annual tradition. Fan groups on both sides describe a friendship going back roughly a decade, with supporters regularly crossed borders to watch each other play.

Zenit’s win closes a strong pre-season ahead of their next domestic cup game on July 18. Crvena Zvezda is now turning to defend their Serbian SuperLiga crown.

Match: Zenit 3-1 Crvena Zvezda
Scorers: Sobolev 20’ (pen), Vega 61’, Felipe Augusto 73’ — Abu Fani 81’
Attendance: 29,669