Lazio vs Zenit St Petersburg Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 21/11/2020, 22:09  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 21/11/2020 at 22:10 in Champions League Predictions

Italian side Lazio will be looking to move closer to qualifying for the second round of the UEFA Champions League when they host Russian side Zenit on Match Day 4 this Tuesday. Ahead of the game, Lazio are second on five points in Group F while Zenit are bottom with a point. The Italians warmed up for this game with a 2-0 win away to Crotone, which presented their first clean sheet in 10 matches and the seventh straight unbeaten match. They have scored in each of their last seven matches and will be well charged for this game. In the other game in this group, Borussia Dortmund host Club Brugge, and the Germans are expected to prevail in the match so Lazio will know it is crucial to win here to maintain the one-point gap. Lazio have been good in attack; in the last 11 matches they have failed to score in just one and are unbeaten in four home matches. They have also scored in 11 of their last 12 home matches and are unbeaten in their last three Champions League matches, though their last two ended in draws. In defence, they will have concerns though; in their last 18 Champions League matches, they have just one clean sheet. They have however compensated for this with a consistent scoring run. In their last 13 home matches in the Champions League, Lazio have managed to score in 12. These two sides drew 1-1 in their last meeting.

Zenit, on the other hand, twice had the lead against Akhmat Grozny in the Russian league but let the lead slip. In the end, they drew 2-2 and now have a tough task to rise in this game. A loss in Italy will end their hopes of advancing in this competition and one factor they will really bank on is having scored in 11 of their last 12 matches. They led going into the final 10 minutes of their first meeting with Lazio but Felipe Caicedo canceled that out in the 82nd minute, denying Zenit a first win in the group. Having just two clean sheets in 11 matches doesn’t leave them in good standing ahead of their trip to Italy and they have an unimpressive away form. In their last seven away matches, Zenit have won just one and their run in the Champions League also doesn’t inspire much confidence, with just two wins in 12 and one clean sheet in the process. They have conceded two goals or more in five of their last seven Champions league matches. Away from home in this competition they have also not done so well; in the last six they are winless and have conceded two or more in four of the six. Actually, Zenit have lost five of their last six away matches in the Champions League.