Zenit St Petersburg vs Real Betis Predictions

• There have been three or more goals in nine of Zenit’s last 10 competitive games
• Real Betis’ last four away European games have included three or more goals
• Two of Zenit’s three Champions League group games featured at least three goals

Betis games contain plenty of goals

Real Betis are having a good season. They sit in third place in La Liga, where they have won seven of their 12 away games, while they are unbeaten on the road in six matches.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side have proved themselves to be very strong in attack, scoring at least two goals in eight of their last nine matches on their travels, including putting four past Levante at the weekend.

Zenit will naturally pose a much tougher test than that, and their defence may be exposed, but 12 of their last 14 away games have included three or more goals, including all three in the Europa League.

Zenit back from the cold

This is Zenit’s first competitive game since December owing to their winter break, so it is difficult to tell exactly how rusty they might be on their return.

Sergei Semak’s side have just won the Atlantic Cup for a second time, that courtesy of victories over Brondby and Midtjylland and drawing with FC Copenhagan, while they are unbeaten in seven Russian top flight games.

Their form in Europe is not great, but they do tend to score goals, especially at home, putting three past Chelsea in a high-scoring draw and beating Malmo 4-0.

This match should contain plenty of drama. I predict that there will be three or more goals in the game, selecting a 2-2 draw as a correct score prediction.