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Dortmund is still a heavy favorite to defeat Zenit Sankt Petersburg on the road, despite the German side apparently being in poor form after the 0-3 defeat to Hamburg.
Zenit did well to finish ahead of Porto in their Champions League group and reach the Round 16. The hosts did not play an official game since December, as they are currently in the winter break, but manager Luciano Spaletti insisted that his side is 100% ready to go for this match against Dortmund, one of the biggest in Zenit`s recent history. The team, of course, is filled with stars like Arshavin, Witsel, Danny or Hulk, but has yet to make a real impact on the European stage. In the Russian Premier League Zenit is first after 19 rounds, but the winter break came at the right point, as the Sankt Petersburg side was not in good form at all at the end of last year.
Borussia Dortmund had a disappointing season up until this point as the Champions League finalists are sitting on the 3rd place, 20 points from leaders Bayern and with a real possibility of dropping out of the top 4. Dortmund was ravaged by injuries lately, especially on the defensive end, and the visitors are on the back of a simply horrible performance at Hamburg, losing 3-0 after seemingly getting back to form with a couple of wins in the last matches.
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Team news & lineups
Shirokov is the obly absentee for Zenit, while Danny is doubtful but he should be able to start. Malafeev and Rondon are back in the squad and can play if needed. Dortmund is again missing a number of key players like Blaszczykowski, Subotic, Gundogan and Bender. Lewandowski and Hummels are questionable. The first should play, the second is 50-50 at best.
Zenit: Lodygin – Ansaldi, Hubocan, Lombaerts, Criscito – Faizulin, Witsel, Shirokov, Zyryanov, Hulk – Kerzhakov
Dortmund: Weidenfeller – Grosskreutz, Friedrich, Sokratis, Schmelzer – Kehl, Sahin – Reus, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang – Lewandowski
Dortmund is again ravaged by injuries in the defensive department and they had zero success against solid teams when missing Subotic and Hummels, plus DM Bender this time. The superstar attacking lineup of Zenit could well do some damage against this banged-up Dortmund defense, just like Hamburg did at the weekend. Of course, Dortmund is still the better team here and Zenit still has some way to go to reach the level of top German sides, but with the current form and injuries the visitors do not look like 1.85 favorites when playing away in the Russian winter. Pick Zenit to win or draw. My tip is Zenit +0,5 handicap. Prediction: Zenit Sankt Petersburg – Borussia Dortmund 2-2.
Pick: Zenit (+0,5)
Odds: 2.07 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 7
Possible profit: 7.49
Event date: 25 February
