Real Betis vs Zenit St Petersburg Predictions

• Both teams have scored in each of Betis’ last four matches.
• Zenit have conceded at least twice in each of their last three Europa League games.
• Zenit lost five of their last six Europa League matches.
• Each of Zenit’s last four Europa League matches produced over 2.5 goals.

Lack of away goals could make this interesting

After a stunning first leg which saw Betis race into a 2-0 lead within 20 minutes before conceding twice, only to go on and win the game 3-2, Zenit know that they must win this game to have any chance at all of progressing into the round of 16.

The fact that any single-goal margin win will do may well spur Zenit on to get that all important first goal, as the away goals rule is out for this season’s UEFA club competitions.

Even if the visitors can grab a goal, it will not be plain sailing for the Russians if history is anything to go by, as they have won only six of their prior 23 UEFA clashes with Spanish opponents (D6, L11) while conceding 1.9 goals per-match on average over those historical clashes.

History could repeat itself

Betis are currently enjoying a fine run of form, with four consecutive victories despite not keeping a clean sheet in any game. Furthermore, they have lost just one of their five historical clashes against Russian opponents (W2, D2), a repeat of which would see them through here.

The Seville-based club actually faced Russian opponents in the Europa League round of 32 back in 2014, in which the second leg at home produced a 1-1 stalemate against Rubin Kazan after their first-leg success.

I predict that Betis should have enough to get through this tie, but I am sticking with both teams to score as my main prediction, mainly because Zenit must go hammer and tong for the win in this clash and have proven they can score with none of their last ten opponents holding them scoreless.