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Zenit have had a very good start to the season under new manager, Roberto Mancini, and they find themselves one point clear at the top of the table. Eight games into the season and Zenit are still undefeated with six win and two draws. Zenit almost certainly have the best attack in the league. Of course, this is backed up by the league best 16 goals they have scored but they generally play well and Mancini appears to be getting the best out of Kokorin who leads the league for goals with six of them, one more than he managed last season already.
When Zenit get going they are likely to be almost unstoppable for most teams in this league. They put four past Ahmat Grozny and five past Spartak Moscow in two of their home matches. They havent reached those heights away from home but they have scored in every away league match so far this season. In fact, the only game where they have been stopped was at home in their last match against Rostov who held them to a 0-0 draw. I don't find this too alarming. I'd say Zenit weren't as good as they could've been in that game but it is no embarrassment to not score against Rostov, a team who have only conceded three goals all season. Zenit also excel in that area as they, like Rostov, have conceded just three goals which means they both possess the best defences in the league.
Dinamo started the season with what looked like a great draw in a game that ended 2-2 against the defending champions, Spartak Moscow. However, this achivement doesn't look as great when you consider the poor form Spartak have shown this season. They have just two wins this season and they were against Anzhi and Amkar, the two teams that are currently in the bottom two spaces in the league. Their only other point came in a draw against Ufa which means they've lost four matches, inlcuding their last match away to Krasnodar.
Panchenko has been good up front for Dinamo with four goals but three of those came against Amkar and Anzhi, while the other came on the opening day against Spartak. The team lack a little spark going forward and may struggle to break down a good Zenit defence. I wouldnt have much faith in their own defence having kept one clean sheet all season and that was when they shut out Amkar, the team with the worst attack in the league.
Zenit have European considerations later in the week but they should have more than enough here. Their attacking quality coupled with Dinamo's defensive problems should see them score what I would expect to be at least two goals, while I think Dinamo will struggle going forward. Dinamo have only lost one home match this season but Zenit should have too much for them. I have Zenit priced around 1.65-1.70, so there's value to be had at 1.87.
Pick: Zenit
Odds: 1.87
Bookmaker: ➾ Jetbull
Stake: 8 units
Tipster: O_Fortuna
| TIPSTER: O_Fortuna | Total profit: -22.59 | Tips won: 74 |
| Country: UK | Total yield: -1.39% | Tips lost: 133 |
| Speciality: Football | Total picks: 211 | Tips pushed: 4 |
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| 06.03 | • Argentinos Juniors - Boca Juniors | 2.05 | 8 | ❌ | -8 |
| 05.03 | • Celta Vigo - Las Palmas | 1.95 | 8 | ❌ | -8 |
| 25.02 | • Atletico Tucuman - Tigre | 2.18 | 8 | ❌ | -8 |
| 24.02 | • Velez Sarsfield - River Plate | 2.47 | 8 | ❌ | -8 |
| 27.01 | • Talleres - San Lorenzo | 1.71 | 8 | ❌ | -8 |
| 26.01 | • Tigre - Banfield | 1.75 | 8 | ✅ | +6 |
| 25.01 | • Independiente - Rosario Central | 1.88 | 8 | ✅ | +7.04 |
| 23.01 | • Holstein Kiel - Union Berlin | 2.76 | 8 | ✅ | +14.08 |
| 14.01 | • Adelaide - Sydney | 3.25 | 8 | ❌ | -8 |
