Zenit – Anderlecht

Zenit Anderlecht preview

Zenit Sankt Petersburg will attempt to come back from a 0-2 deficit against Anderlecht after being foolish to lose by that margin in the first leg last week.

Zenit is currently second in the Russian Premier League and destroyed the opposition in an Europa League group with Alkmaar, Dundalk and Maccabi Tel Aviv, but the hosts are currently in the mid season break and that cost them last week in Belgium. Zenit was the better team in the 0-2 loss, but poor finishing and rusty errors allowed Anderlecht to claim a very important win.

After a somewhat shaky start to the season, Anderlecht stepped it up and played excellent football in the last two months or so. The visitors have not lost in the last 11 matches in all competitions (8 wins) and tied Club Brugge for the first place in Belgium – but there was no bigger confirmation of their good form than last week’s 2-0 win against Zenit. The investments made in the summer are starting to show their worth and Anderlecht is in a good position to qualify.

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Team news & lineups:

Zenit should get a boost from the return of Danny, who did not play in the first leg, but is reported fit to start in this game.

Zenit Sankt Petersburg: Lodygin – Ivanovic, Neto, Lombaerts, Criscito – Hernani, Garcia – Danny, Giuliano, Kokorin – Dzyuba

Anderlecht: Ruben – Najar, Nuytinck, Spajic, Obradovic – Trebel, Dendonker – Tielemans, Stancu, Acheampong- Teodorczyk

Anderlecht (finished 2nd in an EL group with Mainz, St Etienne and Qabala) is in great form and has not lost in some time, but playing in Russia will be the biggest challenge they faced so far this season.

For all of Anderlecht’s good form, Zenit is by far the better team here and they actually proved it in the first leg, despite the ugly 0-2 loss. Zenit enjoyed almost 70% possession and had many goalscoring chances, but it simply wasn`t their day.

This time, at home and with Anderlecht affording to lose by 1 or even 2, Zenit should get the victory. Zenit also now has an official match under their belt, so that should help them to be sharper than last week. When at their best, the Russians seemed unstoppable this season, particularly at home.

Qualification will be much more difficult to achieve, but anything else other than a home win would make little sense considering the quality difference, the venue, the circumstances and what we saw in the first leg.

My tip is Zenit Sankt Petersburg to win. Prediction: Zenit Sankt Petersburg – Anderlecht 2-0 (2-1 extra time).

Pick: Zenit
Odds: 1.63 @ Jetbull
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 5.04
Event date: 23 February

About Rostick

Born in '88. Running betting tips websites since 2007. Launched Betdistrict in 2013. Worked as a bookie for a year to spy on the other side. Rugby Union and NBA expert. Editor info & statistics.

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