Zenit vs Benfica Prediction and Preview – 09/03/16
Champions League preview – Zenit vs Benfica prediction.
Zenit have two players suspended for the second leg against Benfica on Wednesday. Midfielder Javi Garcia received his fifth yellow card of the tournament during the 1-0 defeat in Lisbon where left-back Domenico Criscito saw red after committing two bookable offences. Andre Villas-Boas has two experienced right backs in Aleksandr Anyukov and Igor Smolnikov who can both play on the left when required. Viktor Faizulin, Vyacheslav Malafeev and Aleksandr Ryazantsev are sidelined with injury
Benfica also have two suspended players in centre-back Jardel and right-back Andre Almeida. It leaves manager Rui Vittoria with problems in defence as he is also without the injured Lisandro Lopez and Luisao. Viktor Lindelof is the only recognised central defender in the squad and one of the full-backs may be asked to cover. Goalkeeper Julio Cesar is doubtful after missing Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash with Sporting Lisbon suffering with a thigh problem while Nuno Santos and Lubomir Fejsa have been ruled out with injury.
Possible Line-ups
Zenit 4-2-3-1 formation: Lodygin; Anyukov, Garay, Lombaerts, Smolnikov; Witsel, Yusupov; Hulk, Danny, Shatov; Dzyuba
Benfica 4-2-3-1 formation: Ederson; Silvio, Nelsinho, Lindelof, Eliseu; Sanches, Samaris; Pizzi, Jonas, Gaitan; Mitroglou
Statistics
- Zenit have won 4 drawn 4 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Benfica have won 9 drawn 0 and lost 1 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Zenit have scored an average of 1.4 goals and conceded an average of 0.9 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Benfica have scored an average of 2.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.6 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 4 of Zenit’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Benfica’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Zenit have had the benefit of two competitive games since losing out to a 90th minute goal in the first leg. The games will have helped the players sharpen up after a long winter break but Villas-Boas must be concerned by the lack of penetration shown by his forwards. It took until extra-time for the solitary goal in the 1-0 cup win against relegation-threatened Kuban Krasnodar a week past Sunday which was followed by a goalless draw in the Premier League match at fourth-placed Krasnodar. Zenit have won their last four home games in the Champions League including a 1-0 victory over Benfica in last season’s competition.
Benfica enjoyed a morale-boosting win against title rivals Sporting Lisbon at the weekend to go top of the Primeira Liga. However, Rui Vittorio will be left with a makeshift defence, needing to replace three of the defenders that lined up on Saturday. Benfica will have their prolific forward partnership of Mitroglou and Jonas who have scored 40 league goals between them this season and the team has won 15 of its last 16 competitive matches.
Zenit are favourites to triumph with the visitors’ fielding an understrength back line but Benfica have the potential to score a decisive away goal.
Tips
Zenit to win at 11/10 with bet365
Over 2.5 goals at 6/5 at Betfair Sportsbook
Zenit to win 2-1 at 17/2 with BetVictor
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