SL Benfica vs Zenit St. Petersburg
Champions League – Group G
Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: Estádio da Luz (Lisbon).
Team News
Andre Almeida and David Tavares particular both miss the game, with both players suffering from thigh injuries.
Goalkeeper Mile Svilar was not available for an Achilles tendon injury, while Rafa Silva is out until the end of February with a groin problem.
Alexander Kokorin might be able to return from a knee injury, although Sergey Zuykov and Emanuel Mammana definitely out for a while because of a cruciate ligament problem.
Malcom, signed from Barcelona during the summer, looks set to come out with a hip problem until the end of next month, but it remains to be seen when goalkeeper Andrey Lunev going back.
Benfica starting lineup possibilities:
Vlachodimos; T. Tavares, Dias, Ferreira, Grimaldo; Pires, Taarabt, Pizzi, Cervi; Chiquinho, Vinicius
Zenit Saint Petersburg lineup may be the beginning:
Kerzhakov; Karavayev, Ivanovic, Rakitskiy, Santos; Barrios, Ozdoyev, Kuzyayev, Driussi; Azmoun, Dzyuba
SL Benfica vs Zenit St Petersburg: Predictions
Having dropped 0-2 lead in extra time in Leipzig, the Eagles lost all hope of qualifying for the Champions League last 16.
While sitting last in Group G, even Europa League is the uncertainty for them. They will qualify if they beat Zenit by a better score line of 3-1 and Lyon have not lost or if they just win and Lyon lose to Leipzig.
only their victory came at the Estádio da Luz, after beating Lyon 3-1. Just another game in front of the crowd, they have already lost 1-2 v CL starter RB Leipzig.
Zenit is the second, after taking four points from their first two matches. their good form did not last because they were then beaten twice by Leipzig.
And they beat Lyon 2-0 in St Petersburg and sits on the brink of qualification. Guests are sure passengers for the KO if they win in Portugal even though they can get away with a draw if Lyon fail to beat Leipzig. If both games drawn, Russia is through because of their superiority in head-to-head record over Lyon.
André Almeida and David Tavares ruled out for the Eagles while Haris Seferović questionable.
Malcolm went out for Zenit, such as Andrei Lunev and Yuri Zhirkov. The season ends for Emanuel Mammana, who suffered a knee ligament injury.
I hesitate to recommend Zenit win because they are in eleven games without a win away from home in European competition.
But since it's all-or-nothing for Benfica, which may open up some space for Dzyuba & friends. Both teams to score is a good bet.
I will also try Half with most goals: 2nd half. the last four meetings of this team has most goals scored in the second half and considering the importance of this game, the first half may be arrogant while most of the action takes place after the break.
