Champions League preview and odds: Benfica vs Zenit

Published on: 15/02/2016

Champions League preview and odds: Benfica vs Zenit

February 16, 2016 19:45pm - Estádio da Luz

Champions League - Round of 16, First leg

Benfica will have to navigate their way past a Zenit team led by a Portuguese Coach and with three former players in its ranks if they are to progress to the quarter-final stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Benfica with rare appearance in knockout stages

Benfica have featured in eight UEFA Champions League campaigns, but have only made the knockout stages once before. The two-time former European Cup winners finished runners-up to Atletico Madrid in Group C, and now come up against the team that beat them on home soil in the Group Stages of last year`s competition.

The Eagles will be coming up against three former players in Axel Witsel, Javi García and Ezequiel Garay, as well as former Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas.

Since the last of the Group stage matches, Benfica have won 12 out of 14 matches, having also drawn one and lost one. That solitary defeat came in their last game at home to Porto on Friday night.

Zenit confident after Group stage stroll

By the time Zenit were beaten at KAA Gent in the last round of Group H matches, they had already booked their place in the knockout stages. They won five of their six matches to finish top of the group, five points clear of their Belgian rivals.

When the Russians paid a visit to the Stadium of Light in the last year`s group stages, they ran out 2-0 winners. They also beat Porto 1-0 on their previous visit to Portugal.

Zenit have yet to resume their league campaign due to the winter break, but they did compete in and win the fourth edition of the Atlantic Cup in February, beating Swedish side Orebro in the final.

Team news

The home side will be without the injured duo of Luisão and Rebocho, while Fejsa and Lisandro López are both doubts.

Meanwhile for the visitors, Fayzulin, Malafeev and Smolnikov are all set to miss out, while Ryazantsev is a doubt.

Recent form (All competitions)

Benfica: LWWWW

Zenit St Petersburg: WWWWL

Betting odds and tips

Zenit were impressive in the group stages but have had a lack of competitive football since. However, their participation in the Atlantic Cup would have helped them prepare for this game.

Benfica`s 11 game unbeaten run came to an end when they were beaten at homr by Porto on Friday. They have only lost once at home to a Russian side, but that defeat came at the hands of Zenit last season.

The draw looks like a good bet at 23/10 with Bet365.

Published on: 15/02/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (15/02/2016 12:36:20) but are subject to change.