Zenit Saint-Petersburg’s Argentine contingent have already impressed in Russia and with Sebastián Driussi off the mark on his first start a couple of weeks ago, Leandro Paredes opened his account on Sunday with a powerful volley.

More used to providing the ammunition for the strikers from his deep-lying midfield position, Paredes broke the deadlock against Akhmat Grozny after his initial free-kick was only headed back into his path allowing a fiercely struck volley to deflect off a defender and into the net.

Driussi and Emanuel Mammana started alongside Paredes with Matías Kranevitter joining them in the second half but goals from Aleksandr Kokorin, Daler Kuzyayev and Yuriy Zhirkov wrapped up a comfortable win. Zenit lead the way in Russia with five wins and a draw so far.

In Ukraine, Shakhtar Donetsk earned a 2-1 win away to Oleksandriya thanks to Facundo Chucky Fereyra’s second half header. 

The reigning champions needed to come from behind but following Fred’s equaliser, the former Banfield and Vélez striker sealed the win with a thumping header.