Zenit St Petersburg vs Yerisey Predictions

Zenit’s work is essentially done; they’ve already been confirmed as champions, though they’ll probably want to say goodbye to the campaign by claiming one final victory in front of a home crowd. Yenisey’s fate has also been determined prior to the final weekend; they’re heading out of the division, and it looks as if they’re going to do so off the back of finishing bottom.

The title has been heading to St. Petersburg for some time, so Zenit can be forgiven for their rather lacklustre efforts last time out. Away against Rostov, they failed to get going in the final third, while they certainly weren’t great at the back either.

However, form hasn’t dipped at this venue, where Zenit have continued to deliver high-level performances. Sunday’s hosts have won each of their last six home matches, scoring 19 goals in the process. During that time, their attacking efforts have easily outweighed the efforts of their opponents, though Zenit have not been overly impressive in the defensive third, conceding at least once in four of their last six at home.

Most sides would fancy themselves to notch in this match; Zenit have nothing to play for and have slipped up a few times at the back of late. However, Yenisey have been so poor from an attacking point of view on the road this season that they probably won’t be feeling too confident.

Sunday’s visitors have scored an average of only 0.57 goals away from home this season, while their average of just 0.87 expected goals for is also disappointing. Just eight goals in 14 away games doesn’t inspire much confidence, nor does the fact that Yenisey have scored in only two of their previous seven games away against top-half opposition.

Furthermore, when the pair met earlier in the campaign, Yenisey failed to create much, despite playing in front of a home crowd, while they also gave away quite a bit. On that occasion, Zenit created 1.65 expected goals for and scored twice, while Yenisey failed to score and posted just 0.53.

From a betting point of view, this isn’t an ideal fixture, though there is one bet that makes small appeal. At the prices, ‘Zenit to Score Over 2.5 Goals’ might just be worth a go. Determined to give their home fans a good send off, the hosts, who’ve scored a pleasing average of 2.5 goals at home this season, can hurt a visiting side that has conceded three goals or more against top-seven teams on five occasions this season.