Zenit St Petersburg vs Lyon Predictions

Zenit St Petersburg currently sit third in what is a tight Group G. They really need to pick up a win in this game to keep their dreams of qualification to the round of 16 alive, as anything else would mean Europa League qualification is much more likely. The side aren’t in great form, however, losing their last two games to RB Leipzig and failing to keep a clean sheet so far in the competition. 

Lyon have fared a little better, losing just once in four games and being a win away from securing their place in the round of 16. Lyon have scored the most goals and conceded the least but a disappointing 2-1 loss to Benfica in matchweek 3 means they are going to struggle to finish top of the group, ahead of RB Leipzig. 

Neither team can claim to have set the Champions League alight this season and it’s telling no one has been able to take advantage in what looks to be one of the weaker groups this season, at least on paper. Everyone has taken points off each other but the right result for Lyon could see them breathe easy ahead of them welcoming their German opponents in two weeks’ time. 

Both sides have seen their games average 2.75 goals but this one looks like it might be a bit tighter, with neither team possessing much in the final third throughout the tournament and just 12 goals between them so far. We can definitely see this one being a tight, cagey affair on what should be a freezing cold Russian night and we are backing the under 2.5 goal line to be a winner at 11/10.

There isn’t a huge amount between the two sides but Lyon possess a little more quality in the final third, with the spark of Memphis Depay and Bertrand Traore meaning they might just be able to edge the game and find the win. We’re predicting the French side will be able to secure their qualification to the final 16 with a slender 1-0 win and make their final group game with RB Leipzig a formality.