Zenit vs Lyon Prediction and Preview – 20/10/15
Champions League preview – Zenit vs Lyon prediction
Zenit manager Andres Villas-Boas will have to make do without Viktor Faizulin who is injured and is waiting for news on the fitness of Igor Smolnikov, who is a doubt. Goalkeeper Juri Lodygin has been dropped in recent weeks in favour of Mikhail Kerzhakov and that trend may continue for this game.
Lyon continue to battle against a lengthy injury list which includes the likes of Nabil Fekir, Clement Grenier, Gueida Fofana, Milan Bisevac and Aldo Kalulu. With Bakary Kone and Henri Bedimo also struggling to make the game, manager Hubert Fournier is up against it when picking his team.
Possible Line-ups
Zenit: 4-2-3-1 formation: Kerzhakov; Anyukov, Garay, Lombaerts, Criscito; Garcia, Witsel; Hulk, Danny, Shatov; Dzyuba
Lyon: 4-3-1-2 formation: Lopes: Jallet, Yanga-Mbiwa, Umtiti, Rafael; Darder, Gonalons, Tolisso; Valbuena; Lacazette, Beauvue
Statistics
- Zenit have won 4, drawn 5 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Lyon have won 3, drawn 4 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Zenit have scored an average of 1.9 goals and conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Lyon have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 8 of Zenit’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Lyon’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Zenit come in to this match sitting pretty at the top of Group H with a 100% record after two games. The 3-2 win at Valencia on the opening night of this season’s Champions League is a real stand-out result for the Russian club. Zenit are unbeaten in their last eight competitive matches, including two wins from their last three games. Furthermore, Zenit have lost only one of their last six home Champions League matches.
Lyon travel to Russia as the bottom team in Group H, having picked up just 1 point from their two games. That point came away to Belgian club Gent but they followed up that result with a 1-0 defeat at home to Valencia. Lyon have been struggling with injury problems this season and it’s shown in their results, winning only two of their last six games. Lyon have to look back to August 2013, to find their last away win in the Champions League.
Zenit are definitely the form team out of the two and with Lyon’s injury list not getting any shorter, the hosts should make it three wins from three games.
Tips
Zenit win at 10/11 – Click here to bet with Bet365
Zenit win and under 2.5 goals at 3/1 – Click here to bet with Bet365
Zenit to win by 2 goals at 4/1 – Click here to bet with Bet365
What are your predictions?
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