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.The Zenit players took to the pitch at the Gazprom Arena this evening accompanied by dogs from local shelters looking for a new home 🐶💙pic.twitter.com/bjFTvntw3i— FC Zenit in English✨ (@fczenit_en) December 3, 2021 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!Our very special mascots for today’s match are all looking for new homes 🐶💙https://t.co/EUlpqyFznq pic.twitter.com/z29CE47e9M— FC Zenit in English✨ (@fczenit_en) December 3, 2021 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. 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 17FridayZenit – Rostov 2-2 (1-2)/Claudinho 31, 69 pen – Poloz 11 pen, Komlichenko 25/Saturday14.00: (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)Sunday14.00: (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