Zenit St Petersburg moved six points clear at the top of UEFA Europa League Group G with a comfortable win over Hajduk Split at the Petrovsky Stadium. Luciano Spalletti's side were rarely troubled by their Croatian visitors as a goal in either half from Alexander Bukharov and Danny saw them ease to victory.

Ante Vukusic had an early chance for Hajduk after just 30 seconds but he fired over the bar, and Zenit responded with a period of sustained pressure. Danny fired across keeper Danijel Subasic, forcing him into his first save of the night before Igor Denisov was off target with an effort from the edge of the penalty area as the Russian side surged forward.

And they duly took a deserved lead in the 25th minute as Danny's right-wing cross picked out Bukharov's late run perfectly for the striker to nod home from close range.

Vukusic was proving to be Hajduk's most threatening attacking force but he fired wide when well placed before also missing the target with a header from a corner. Bukharov came close to his second early on in the second half but saw his drilled effort just clear the crossbar, and Zenit ought to have doubled their lead in the 62nd minute.

Danko Lazovic's corner came all the way through to Nicolas Lombaerts at the far post, but Subasic made a stunning save to deny him. But that was only a brief reprieve for the visitors as five minutes later Aleksandar Lukovic picked out Danny, and the Portuguese midfielder's cleanly struck volley flew into the net.

With the points assured the game rather petered out from that point, although Goran Jozinovic missed a great chance to grab a consolation goal as he blazed wildly wide in stoppage time.