Champions League preview and odds: Lyon vs. Zenit St Petersburg

Published on: 02/11/2015

Champions League preview and odds: Lyon vs. Zenit St Petersburg

November 4, 2015 19:45pm Stade de Gerland

Champions League

Top and bottom go head-to-head in Group H on Wednesday as leaders Zenit look to maintain their perfect record in this years campaign away to struggling Lyon.

Zenit on course for last 16

A win for FK Zenit will guarantee their place in the knockout stages of this years UEFA Champions League competition. The Russian side have maximum points following three straight wins including a 3-1 triumph over Lyon on home soil. They now travel to France with a chance to wrap up qualification with two games to spare.

In the first meeting between the sides back in October, goals from Artem Dzyuba, Hulk and Danny condemned the French side to their first defeat against Russian opposition. A second half equaliser from Alexandre Lacazette proved to be no more than a consolation goal for the visitors.

Olympique Lyonnais in desparate need of a win

Lyon have just one point to their name and are rooted firmly to the base of Group H. They could exit the competition on Wednesday if they fail to win and other results do not go their way. In stark contrast to Zenit, Lyon have made their worst ever start to a Champions League group stage campaign.

Hubert Fourniers team picked up their one and only point in the game away to Gent but have since fallen against Valencia at home and away to Zenit to leave themselves five points adrift of the second qualifying place with three games to play. Until the defeat in St Petersburg they had never been beaten by a Russian team.

Team news

The home side will be without the injured trio of Nabil Fekir, Gédéon Kalulu and Clément Grenier, while Milan Bievac and Steed Malbranque are both doubtful.

Zenit are waiting on the fitness of Hulk but midfielder Viktor Fayzulin will definitely be missing with a knee injury.

Recent form (All competitions)

Lyon: WWLDW

Zenit St Petersburg: DWWWD

Betting odds and tips

Zenit are unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions and are proving to be clinical in this years Champions League. They can be expected to pounce on a Lyon team whose desperation for a win may expose them in this game. You can back the Russians at 9/4 with Betvictor.

Zenit striker Artem Dyzuba is in great scoring form and can be backed at 15/2 with Bet365 to bag the first goal.

Published on: 02/11/2015

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (02/11/2015 15:11:57) but are subject to change.