Zenit vs Chelsea player ratings: Claudinho 8, Lovren 6; Kepa 8, Lukaku 6

A 3-3 draw means Chelsea surrendered first place in Champions League Group H

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  ZENIT RATINGS: Mikhail Kerzhakov – 7. Made his second appearance in the Champions League this season with first-choice Stanislav Kritsyuk sidelined and was forced to make an early save to deny Saul. Made a mess of collecting Barkley’s through-ball but luckily Werner was oblivious. Largely comfortable and couldn’t do much for any of Chelsea’s goals. AFP

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  Vyacheslav Karavayev – 6. Spotted the danger to an early ball from Lukaku as Chelsea looked for a second within four minutes and did well to clear. Getty Images

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  Dejan Lovren – 6. The former Liverpool man was the only change to Zenit’s backline from their game at the weekend, and he didn’t see much of the ball. Booked. AP Photo

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  Yaroslav Rakitskiy – 7. Delivered a lovely ball to Kuzyayez to break Chelsea on the counterattack, although the final product by Malcom lacked planning. AFP

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  Douglas Santos – 7. Looked oblivious to the threat Werner posed at the back post for Chelsea’s opening goal and was unable to stop the German slotting home. Supplied a gorgeous ball over Azpilicueta for Claudinho to run onto as Zenit grew into the game, before supplying the assist for the Brazilian again. AFP

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  Malcom – 7 Made several wrong decisions and ran onto a beauty of a ball but couldn’t beat Arrizabalaga who had closed the angle. An energetic performance. EPA

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  Daler Kuzyayev – 7. Split Chelsea on the counterattack, meeting with Rakitskiy’s ball and supplying another beautiful ball to Malcom. EPA

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  Wendel – 7. Did very well in midfield and looked in control during the first half. Also did well to dispossess a sideways cross by Reece James but saw his game cut early after picking up an injury just after half time. AFP

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  Wilmar Barrios – 7. Dithered too long and tried to play out from the back when he should have cleared the ball when surrounded by blue shirts. Had a crack from outside the box in the early stages, though his attempt lacked any effort. Intercepted Barkley on the turn at the half-way line to set Zenit away for their second. EPA

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  Claudinho – 8. Looked to give Zenit their first look at goal with a ball to Azmoun at the back post, but Azpilicueta was able to clear any danger. Skied an effort in the 19th minute. Totally unmarked as Zenit’s biggest threat headed home to level things. AFP

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  Sardar Azmoun – 8. Looked lively as Zenit grew into the game. Got a deserved goal, Zenit’s star striker running free on goal and rounding Azpilicueta to put his side ahead. Could have got his second of the game seconds later. He then forced Arrizabalaga into a low save with a great header in the 70th minute. Subbed due to injury. EPA

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  SUB: Andrei Mostovoy (Wendel 50’) – 6. Lively addition with Wendel unable to continue just after half time. EPA

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  SUB: Danil Krugovoy (Rakitskiy 66’) – 6. Lucky to survive after clearing the ball into Werner’s path with the German unable to double his tally, but very lively on the wing with his sprints into the final third. AFP

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  SUB: Artem Dzyuba (Azmoun 79’) – N/A. Came on for an injured Azmoun. Forced Sarr’s headed clearance into the path of Ozdoev. EPA

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  SUB: Aleksandr Yerokhin (Malcom 79’) – N/A. Came on as Zenit looked for another equaliser. EPA

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  SUB: Magomed Ozdoev (Kuzyaev 80’) – N/A. Brilliant strike from 30 yards by the substitute in stoppage time to make things level once again. EPA

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  CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga – 8. Handed his first start since October with Mendy rested, and was forced into a one-on-one situation with Malcom, which he did well to clear. Stood strong on several occasions and stopped Azmoun getting his second with a great save. AP Photo

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  Cesar Azpilicueta – 6. The Blues captain has had to be patient with the resurgence of James on the right but with Tuchel making several changes to the backline, the Spaniard returned to the starting line-up. He was often beaten by Claudinho when Zenit were on the ball. EPA

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  Andreas Christensen – 6. One of three players to retain their place following their defeat at West Ham. Should have marked Claudinho’s late run, so was culpable for the equaliser. EPA

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  Malang Sarr – 6 With Chalobah out and Rudiger and Silva rested, the 22-year-old was handed his Champions League debut. He displayed good defending to stop Azmoun giving his side the lead again, but he didn’t always look comfortable. Reuters

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  Reece James – 6. Celebrated his birthday playing in midfield but returned to the right to cover the threat of Claudinho. Uncharacteristically mislaid a pass across midfield, which was intercepted, and split Chelsea open as Zenit hunted for a third. EPA

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  Ross Barkley – 7. He provided the corner that put Chelsea ahead within two minutes. He was later dispossessed at the half-way line as Zenit raced clear with Azmoun looking to double Zenit’s tally. Worked well with Werner in the build-up to Chelsea’s second in his last action of the night. PA

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  Saul Niguez – 7. The loanee has struggled to adapt to life in England but he made his presence known with a darting run within seconds of the start. Forced Kerzhakov into an uncomfortable save in the second half, which the goalkeeper struggled to punch away. A decent display to keep him in Tuchel’s thinking. EPA

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  Callum Hudson-Odoi – 6. An anonymous display from the young winger, who struggled to force his way in the game. Booked for a kick at Douglas Santos. AFP

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  Mason Mount – 6. Should have made it two for Chelsea when Lukaku floated a ball to him, but Kerzhakov threw his body at it. Quieter display than usual. AFP

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  Timo Werner – 7. Got the final touch at the back post to put Chelsea ahead within two minutes. Looked spritely but as Zenit came into the game, the German was much quieter. Lovely work with Barkley and Lukaku for Chelsea’s equaliser. Grabbed his second of the night in the closing stages with another great goal. AFP

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  Zenit St. Petersburg's Ukrainian defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy and Chelsea's Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku vie for the ball during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Zenit St. Petersburg and Chelsea at the Gazprom Arena stadium in Saint Petersburg on December 8, 2021. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP)

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  SUB: Christian Pulisic (Barkley 65’) – N/R. Some great play between him and Ziyech in the build-up to Werner’s second goal. EPA

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  SUB: Hakim Ziyech (Hudson-Odoi 65’) – N/R. Contributed the assist ahead of Werner’s second. AFP

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  SUB: Kai Havertz (Lukaku 75’) – N/R. Quiet cameo from the bench. EPA

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  SUB: Marcos Alonso (Saul 75’) – N/R Didn’t have too much to do. EPA

Champions League holders Chelsea finished as Group H runners-up after conceding a stoppage-time equaliser in a pulsating 3-3 draw at Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday.

The result left Chelsea second on 13 points from six games, two behind group winners Juventus who leapt into pole position thanks to a 1-0 home win over Sweden's Malmo.

Both sides had already booked their last-16 berths while third-placed Zenit will go into the second-tier Europa League after the winter break.

Chelsea made a perfect start as Timo Werner fired them ahead in the second minute with a tap-in after a Ross Barkley corner was nodded into his path.

Mason Mount squandered a sitter to double the lead after Zenit twice came close to an equaliser and the England midfielder's miss turned out to be costly as the home side turned the game round with two quickfire goals.

Brazilian forward Claudinho levelled in the 38th with a glancing header into the far corner after his compatriot Douglas Santos swung in a cross past a static visiting defence.

Rattled by the equaliser, Chelsea fell behind three minutes later when Iranian striker Sardar Azmoun beat the offside trap from Malcom's fine through ball and slotted home after rounding goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Romelu Lukaku hit back in the 62nd minute as he stroked the ball into an empty net after a flowing move and Chelsea seemed to have forced the final twist after Werner struck again in the 85th thanks to more crisp-one touch passing.

The move left Zenit's defence bedazzled with Christian Pulisic delivering the final pass to Werner, who fired in a snap shot from 10 metres after side-stepping his marker.

The Premier League side were undone, however, by a spectacular equaliser at the death as they failed to clear a cross and Magomed Ozdoev unleashed an unstoppable volley into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area