MX23RW : Thursday, February 17 05:21:15| >> :120:35786:35786:
Feb 17, 2022 at 5.45pm UK at Petrovsky Stadium
ZenitZenit St Petersburg
vs.
Real BetisReal Betis

Preview: Zenit St Petersburg vs. Real Betis - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa League clash between Zenit St Petersburg and Real Betis, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Zenit St Petersburg will welcome Real Betis to the Gazprom Arena on Thursday for the first leg of their Europa League knockout tie.

The reigning Russian Premier League champions enter the competition after dropping down from the Champions League, while Manuel Pellegrini's side feature in the playoff round following a second-placed finish in their Europa League group.


Match preview

Zenit St Petersburg celebrate scoring against Chelsea in December 2021.© Reuters

Thursday's Europa League contest represents Zenit's first meaningful fixture since a 1-1 league draw against Dynamo Moscow on December 12.

With the Russian Premier League currently on a winter break, Thursday's hosts have spent recent weeks playing in friendlies and competing in the Atlantic Cup - a mid-season tournament for those participating in leagues with long winter breaks.

Sergei Samak's side can take confidence from the fact they won the Atlantic Cup for the second time, but their main focus now turns to two crucial games against Real Betis.

Despite winning once in the Champions League group stage, Zenit competed well in a difficult group that contained Juventus and Chelsea, while their five-point tally was enough to secure them a place in the Europa League last 32.

Zenit will be confident of making the most of home advantage, having won nine of their previous 12 home matches in the Europa League knockout phase.

Nabil Fekir in action for Real Betis in November 2021© Reuters

Real Betis enter the first leg in a buoyant mood after winning their last two matches in all competitions, including a 4-2 away victory against Levante on Sunday.

Goals from Nabil Fekir, Edgar Gonzalez and William Carvalho gave Los Verdiblancos a three-goal lead before Dani Gomez netted either side of half time to cut the deficit to one, but another Fekir effort ensured that the visitors would take all three points back to Andalusia.

To this point, Real Betis have enjoyed a successful season, with Pellegrini's side one game away from the Copa del Rey final after winning the first leg of their semi-final against Rayo Vallecano, while they currently occupy a position in the top four of La Liga as they look to qualify for the Champions League.

On Thursday, Los Verdiblancos will turn their focus towards European action as they aim to clinch just their second competitive victory over Russian opposition.

Having won their last four away matches in all competitions, Real Betis will head to the Gazprom Stadium full of confidence, with the visitors aiming to pick up a positive result to take back to the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

Zenit St Petersburg form (all competitions):
  • W
  • D
  • W
  • D
  • D
  • D

Real Betis Europa League form:
  • W
  • W
  • D
  • L
  • W
  • L

Real Betis form (all competitions):
  • W
  • W
  • W
  • L
  • W
  • W



Team News

Zenit St Petersburg coach Sergei Semak on November 23, 2021© Reuters

Zenit St Petersburg will be without the services of Dejan Lovren, who picked up an ankle ligament injury in the Atlantic Cup match against FC Copenhagen.

Stanislav Kritsyuk is also unavailable, having been out with a knee issue since the beginning of November.

Meanwhile, Artem Dzyuba has scored 10 goals this season, and he will have the responsibility of leading the line on Thursday.

As for the visitors, their injury absentees include Claudio Bravo, Martin Montoya and Juan Miranda while Fekir is suspended for the first leg.

As well as Fekir, Sergio Canales could be another big miss for the trip to Russia, with the 30-year-old a doubt for Thursday's encounter after missing his side's last two games following a positive COVID-19 test.

Guido Rodriguez missed Sunday's clash with Levante due to injury, but the Argentina international could return to the lineup to face Zenit on Thursday.

Zenit St Petersburg possible starting lineup:
Kerzhakov; Chistyakov, Barrios, Rakitskiy; Karavaev, Wendel, Kusyaev, Santos; Malcom, Claudinho, Dzyuba

Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Silva; Bellerin, Bartra, Pezzella, Moreno; Rodriguez, Carvalho, Rodri; Ruibal, Juanmi, Iglesias


SM words green background

We say: Zenit St Petersburg 1-1 Real Betis

Although the visitors may be missing a couple of key players, they have proven to be a tough team to beat on their travels this season.

Zenit, meanwhile, may be slightly undercooked due to the lack of competitive football and although they possess home advantage, we think that they may be held to a draw on Thursday.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 1.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 1.5:data


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Who will win Thursday's Europa League clash between Zenit and Real Betis?

Zenit St Petersburg
Draw
Real Betis
Zenit St Petersburg
41.7%
Draw
19.8%
Real Betis
38.5%
96
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Nabil Fekir in action for Real Betis in November 2021
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Zenit St PetersburgZenit18115244202438
2Dynamo Moscow18113433201336
3Sochi1810173021931
4CSKA MoscowCSKA189362116530
5FC KrasnodarKrasnodar1885529181129
6Lokomotiv MoscowLokomotiv187742419528
7Krylia SovetovKrylia Sovetov188372218427
8Akhmat GroznyAkhmat Grozny189092424027
9Spartak Moscow186572026-623
10Rubin Kazan186482327-422
11Ural YekaterinburgUral184771218-619
12Nizhny Novgorod185491830-1219
13Arsenal TulaArsenal Tula185492135-1419
14RostovRostov184683035-518
15FC UfaUfa183781726-916
16KhimkiKhimki182881631-1514

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