Benfica Lisbon vs Zenit St Petersburg Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 08/12/2019, 03:09  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 08/12/2019 at 03:10 in Champions League Predictions

Benfica will host Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg in Group G when the UEFA Champions League enters the final round of group matches starting this Tuesday. Going to this game, Benfica are on four points and placed bottom of the group, while Zenit, on seven points, are second in the group. For both sides, this is a must win game, to boost their chances of securing a second round slot. Benfica need to win by three clear goals, and hope that RB Leipzig beats Olympique Lyon too, to give them a chance. On the other hand, Zenit needs a win of any margin to advance; a draw may not be enough for them. Benfica go to this game on the back of a good run, domestically. They have failed to transform the same to the Champions League, and thus they find themselves bottom of the group. Benfica are unbeaten in their last six matches, and have just one loss in the last 12 matches they have played. They have one win and three losses in their last five Champions League matches. They have not managed a clean sheet in their last five Champions League matches but they have scored in nine of 10 Champions League matches. They have conceded two goals or more in four of five Champions League matches and in the last 10 Champions League matches at home, they have managed just three wins. Benfica have the poorest defence in the group, having conceded 11 goals, but they have scored seven. In the first meeting in the group, Benfica lost 3-1 to Zenit.

Zenit on their part, head to this game on five straight wins, and four clean sheets. They have one loss and seven wins in their last nine matches and they have scored in nine of their last 10 matches. They have scored two or more goals in five of their last 10 matches. In the Champions League, they have won two of their five group matches this season, and lost twice, both to group leaders RB Leipzig. In 2016, they lost home and away to Benfica, but after their earlier win in Group G, they will be keen to also secure a double. Zenit are making a return to the Champions League for the first time since 2016 and while they have given a good account of themselves, they have still struggled away from home. They have no win in four away matches in the Champions League. However, they have four wins over Benfica in seven meetings. Benfica on the other hand, have three wins in the seven meetings between the two sides.