Zenit vs Chelsea

Chelsea will be looking to cement the top spot in UEFA Champions League Group H when they entertain Zenit St Petersburg at the Saint-Petersburg Stadium.

Another underwhelming Champions League campaign has shifted Zenit to the Europa League knock-outs with a game to spare. Except for a 4-0 hammering of Malmo on Matchday 2, the Russians have failed to win their remaining four Group H matches (D1, L3), including a narrow 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture in London. Hopeful of claiming vengeance in their 200th European game, qualifiers included, Zenit will rely on their 100% European record against English visitors, having won both previous such match-ups without conceding a single goal. Since the start of last season, Sergei Semak’s men have lost three of their five Champions League group stage outings at home (W1, D1), falling to a single-goal margin on each occasion. That, coupled with their ongoing four-match unbeaten home run in all competitions (W3, D1), suggests they could put up a fight here.

Meanwhile, Chelsea took the expression ‘Revenge is a dish best served cold’ literally last time out when they thrashed Juventus 4-0 at home to move to the top of Group H. The ‘Blues’ have now won four of their five Champions League games this season by an aggregate score of 9-0, with a 1-0 loss at Juventus on Matchday 2 the solitary exception to this run. That ties in well with Chelsea’s recent fortunes on Russian soil, having won their last three Champions League visits to the country without conceding. Topically, a rock-solid defense has been Chelsea’s trademark under Thomas Tuchel. The reigning European champions have conceded a mere three goals in their 12 Champions League outings since the German manager arrived at the helm in January.