Bayer Leverkusen boss Michael Skibbe praised his UEFA Cup opponents in the quarter final Zenit St Petersburg after the Russians guaranteed their progress into the semi finals on Thursday evening despite losing 1-0 to the German club.

“I would like to congratulate Zenit on their aggregate win and wish them luck in the semi-final” Skibbe said at the final whistle.

“They fully deserved to go through. At the same time I'm really pleased we were able to win today to redeem ourselves for a dreadful performance in the first leg.

“We played with a lot of pace and purpose in the first half but unfortunately we couldn't find the second goal to make Zenit a little bit nervous.

“After the break Zenit took the initiative and put pressure on us, although we still had chances at their end of the pitch. But we didn't take them in the end."