Claudinho scored twice to save Zenit (©AFP)
Claudinho scored twice to save Zenit (©AFP)

Here are the away players, here are the home players... and here are the puppies!

Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 03.12.21. | 21:32

Nice scenes ahead of Zenit - Rostov match in Russia

Pardon us for looking at you with puppy eyes, but you really need to see this.

Zenit players found the perfect way to celebrate World Pet Day in association with the Russian Kynological Foundation, a non-profit organization that brings together 5.5 million dog breeders from across Russia.

Before Friday's Russian Premier League game with FK Rostov, every Zenit player walked onto the pitch carrying a dog in need of a home. In the days leading to the match, the club from Saint Petersburg urged their fans to adopt pets from shelters around the city and give them a warm home. Considering the temperatures are falling far below freezing, the club's campaign was more than welcome.

Fans were urged to get involved with the "Dogs Are Better At Home" initiative at the Gazprom Arena and find out how to adopt a dog from one of the local shelters. That's a cool deal: come to watch a football match and go home with a pet!

The match itself didn't quite go according to plan for Zenit, the reigning champions of Russia. They conceded two first-half goals in quick succession and gave themselves a mountain to climb.

Take them home, Zenit fans! (©AFP)Take them home, Zenit fans! (©AFP)

Thanks to in-form Brazilian Claudinho and a rather soft penalty award, Zenit managed to salvage a point. Still, on a night when they expected to win against lowly Rostov, they will be disappointed because they've given Dynamo Moscow a chance to creep closer to the top spot.

There were no winners on the pitch, but hopefully, those cute doggies would find their forever homes.

RUSSIAN PREMIER LEAGUE - Round 17

Friday

Zenit - Rostov 2-2 (1-2)

/Claudinho 31, 69 pen - Poloz 11 pen, Komlichenko 25/

Saturday

14.00: (3.00) Krylya Sovetov (3.10) CSKA (2.50)

17.00: (2.00) Spartak Moscow (3.40) Akhmat Grozny (3.90)

19.00: (1.80) Lok.Moscow (3.45) Ural (4.80)

Sunday

14.00: (2.10) Khimki (3.35) Arsenal Tula (3.60)

16.30: (3.45) Nizhny Novgorod (3.25) Rubin (2.20)

16.30: (1.60) Dinamo Moscow (3.80) Ufa (6.00)

19.00: (2.60) Sochi (3.30) Krasnodar (2.70)

***odds are subject to change



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Zenit St PetersburgClaudinho

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