Zenit vs Valencia Betting Tips

Zenit are the only team in the competition still with a 100% record in the group phase given they have won all 4 matches so far and they are one of only 3 sides to have already secured progress. A draw in this game would guarantee that they also win the group, which should enable them to land a slightly less difficult opponent in the last 16.

They’ve actually been better in Europe than at home this season. André Villas-Boas has inspired some excellent Champions League performances including a 3-2 win at Valencia back on match-day one but his side are only 4th in the Russian Premier League and trail leaders CSKA by 7 points.

Valencia made a strong response to that defeat though by winning in Lyon and beating Gent at home to go 2nd in the group but a 1-0 defeat in Belgium last time out still leaves their chances of progress hanging in the balance. They could qualify with a win in St Petersburg depending on how the other game goes but would almost certainly be content with a point.

The same could be said for the Russians though, who will be delighted to win the group on the night and not have to worry about their final game at Gent too much. Valencia have been inconsistent this season and are still developing together as a team but they have put in some excellent performances when it has really mattered.

They overcame Monaco in a difficult play-off match to reach this stage and their win in Lyon and 5-1 away victory at high-flying Celta Vigo in their last La Liga away match has shown they are capable of getting results from tough away games.

This one is made a little easier by the fact that Zenit are already through and have a tricky away league game at the weekend, so they might not be quite at their best and Valencia look decent value at 8/11 to secure a result.
There have been goals at both ends in each of Zenit’s home games in the competition so far and that could be the case again here but as the game wears on, it’s unlikely either manager will be terribly ambitious in chasing the win. Therefore consider backing it to finish 1-1 at 5/1.