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Zenit vs Lyon Prediction & Betting tips
Although Bundesliga club RB Leipzig are in the lead at the time of the match between Zenit and Lyon in preparation for the evening game against Benfica Lisbon, they should at least watch the final result in Russia with great interest.
Thus, the Saxons are currently leading the Group G table with nine points, while Olympique Lyon occupy second place two points behind, again four points behind Zenit St. Petersburg.
Accordingly, “Les Gones” would make a small milestone in the round of the last sixteen with a point win in St. Petersburg and would qualify with an away win even prematurely.
However, at Zenit St. Petersburg against Lyon, the odds of the bookmakers are more likely to be in the direction of the hosts, which is also due to the home strength of the Lvy.
Twelve of the last 15 home games in the Gazprom Arena have won the Sine-Belo-Golubye (one draw, two defeats). Top scores, which at Zenit St. Petersburg against Lyon certainly affect the forecast, especially since the French have so far won only one of four games in Russia.
Because there is also a lot of value in the bet, we think it would make the most sense to play at Zenit St. Petersburg against Lyon Tip 1, giving RB Leipzig a match point for the early group win against Benfica in the evening.
Zenit St. Petersburg:
Speaking of RB Leipzig: The German club is the only team that annoyed Zenit St. Petersburg in the last two months. Since September, the Sine-Belo-Golubye lost only two competitive games – the return match against the Bundesliga.
All the other eight competitive matches were successful (seven wins, one draw), leaving Zenit St. Petersburg with a chance to reach the knockout stages, not only in the UEFA Champions League but also in the national competitions.
In the Russian club cup, the Zenitchiki moved into the quarter-finals and in the Premjer League is in 16 out of 18 possible points from the last six games still the table leadership to book.
Only against CSKA Moscow there was a 1: 1 draw a point loss, with the capital club, however, could be kept at a distance. Thus, the team of Sergey Semak steers step by step towards the potentially sixth championship title and the first successful title defense in the club’s history.
In the end, however, the season is still long, which is why it is now important to continue internationally glorious days. For example, Zenit already won the UEFA Cup in 2008 and has been a success in the premier league again and again.
Right at home, the Sine-Belo-Golubye are a force and have won twelve of their last 15 European home games in the Gazprom Arena (one draw, two defeats).
Zenit St. Petersburg’s win against Lyon is further boosted by the fact that they have never defeated a French Ligue 1 player at home (four wins, two draws).
But without worries, the troupe of Sergey Semak is not in this fifth group stage matchday. In addition to keeper Andrey Lunev still missing two other cornerstones of the team injured. Center-back Emanuel Mammana is injured on the cruciate ligament and Barca loan Malcom is missing after hip injury presumably until the end of the year.
All the more it comes down to the superstar Artem Dzyuba, who not only met in the Russian League ten times himself and prepared nine more goals, but also put on in the first leg in Lyon’s 1-0 lead by Sardar Azmoun.
Lyon:
The seven-time French champions, who took all seven titles between 2002 and 2008 in a row, have been very turbulent in recent months.
It was not until the final spurt that Les Gones took third place in Ligue 1 and qualified for the 16th time in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the fourth time in the last five seasons. But then the crash occurred.
In Ligue 1, OL slipped with Karacho into crisis, which was due to the fact that top performers such as Tanguy Ndombélé, Ferland Mendy and Nabil Fekir, which were sold for a lot of money abroad, were not adequately replaced, or their successors did not really hit.
Thus came in the international break in October, a new coach – just Rudi Garcia, who had recently worked successfully at the great rival Olympique Marseille. And with him came against the reservations of the fans and the success back.
Although there was only a goalless draw against Dijon and on 10 November just lost the away game in Marseille with 1: 2, so did “Les Gones” at the dress rehearsal on Saturday a major 2-1 home win over Nice.
Thus, the French won four of their last five competitive matches and could now also bring in international perfect in the first knockout stages, if at least the draw is held in Russia.
Although Zenit St. Petersburg’s odds against Lyon are not overly favorable, it should not be forgotten that OL lost just three of their last 16 competitive games in UEFA competitions (six wins, seven draws).
Ninth place in Ligue 1 or not: It is clear that “Les Gones” are very difficult to beat, as well as their away games, Only three of the last eleven European away games lost the French (five wins, three draws) and brought alone in the preliminary round of the season 2018/19 five points in the distance.
Last, but not least, speaks for OL the fact that Rudi Garcia can draw on his entire team. Only in Russia did the Champions League semi-finalists of the year 2010 have a hard time so far. Only a single win from four away games is up for grabs.
Zenit vs Lyon head to head matches
17.09.19 CL Lyon Zenit 1 : 1
09.07.16 CF Lyon Zenit 2 : 1
04.11.15 CL Lyon Zenit 0 : 2
20.10.15 CL Zenit Lyon 3 : 1