Zenit St Petersburg vs Benfica Prediction, Betting Tips & Preview

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Joel Amorim Mar 07, 2016 @ 01:45 am

Next Wednesday, 9th of March 2016, the Russian powerhouse FC Zenit will measure forces with the Portuguese champions SL Benfica at Petrovsky in Saint Petersburg for the second-leg of the UEFA Champions League 1/8 finals.

The long Russian football winter break didn’t help FC Zenit to pull themselves together as André Villas-Boas has only managed to win one of the three competitive matches they took part in after that. After being defeated 1-0 by SL Benfica at Estádio da Luz in the middle of February, FC Zenit managed to claw an extra-time narrow win over FC Kuban Krasnodar in the Quarter-finals of the Russian Cup. The newcomer Mauricio, who arrived last January from FC Terek Grozny, netted the winning goal and helped his new team to secure a place the semi-finals of the competition.

Last weekend, however, in the first Russian Premier League match after the break, FC Zenit didn’t manage to get anything better than a goalless draw from their visit to city of kosacks. FC Krasnodar hold André Villas-Boas’ men to a draw and almost reduced to dust their chances of claiming the RPL title. The mighty Brazilian winger Hulk tried the best he could to help his team, whether by powerful free-kicks or by long shots, but he failed to overcome an utterly inspired Stanislav Kritsyuk, who put up a truly vintage performance in FC Krasnodar’s net.

For next Wednesday’s important fixture, André Villas-Boas will not be able to rely on the services of the Russian deep-lying playmaker Viktor Fayzulin, who remains sidelined due to a long term injury. Criscito and Javi Garcia will also miss out there due to suspension.

As for SL Benfica, the current Portuguese champions are definitely going through an extremely positive moment and they have managed to overcome their all-time rivals Sporting CP in the Lisbon derby last Saturday’s night.

It was a special match for SL Benfica, since a win would’ve allowed them to change places with the Lions at the top of the table and did manage to accomplish that. A first-half goal by the erratic Greek forward Kostas Mitroglou was enough for SL Benfica to claw the three points and to become the new leaders of Liga NOS.

For next Wednesday’s match, the Eagles’ manager, Rui Vitória, will not be able to rely on the contribution of the experienced Brazilian former internationals Luisão and Júlio César, who are currently sidelined due to injury. André Almeida and Jardel will also miss out there due to suspension.

FC Zenit

Stats: W-3 L-1 D-1

Recent Form - DWLWW

SL Benfica

Stats: W-4 L-1 D-0

Recent Form - WWWWL

Possible Line-ups

FC Zenit (4-2-3-1) - Lodygin - Anyukov - Garay - Lombaerts - Zhirkov - Witsel - Yusupov - Shatov - Danny - Hulk - Dzyuba

SL Benfica (4-4-2) – Ederson - Semedo - Lindelof - Lisandro - Eliseu - Sanches - Samaris - Pizzi - Gaitan - Mitroglou - Jonas

Injury List / Suspended Players

SL Benfica - Luisão (inj) - Júlio César (inj) - André Almeida (sus) - Jardel (sus)

FC Zenit - Fayzulin (inj) - Javi Garcia (sus) - Criscito (sus)

Head-to-head matches:

League Positions