Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Zenit
Match Time & Date:
08/12/2021
18:45
Prediction: 0-2
Chelsea
Zenit and Chelsea take on each other in Saint Petersburg in what is expected to be an interesting Champions League game. The Blues are eager to cement top position in Group H, and we are positive that Thomas Tuchel is going to field the best possible side this time out. Chelsea are on a three-game winning run in the elite competition, and they are likely to go all guns blazing at Zenit. Fit-again attacker Romelu Lukaku is widely expected to replace Kai Havertz in the starting XI, whilst all Chilwell, Chalobah, Kovacic, and Kante are out of contention through injuries.
The Zenitchiki, on the other hand, have collected no more than four points in the process, and, as a result, they will continue their European journey in the Europa League knockout stages. Since the Russians have nothing to play for in the last group game, we are tempted to put our money on Thomas Tuchel’s men. Defender Dmitri Chistyakov is banned for the hosts.
Highlighted Player (Artem Dzyuba):
Over the years Artem Dzyuba has established himself as one of the best players in the Russian Premier League. The 196-cm-tall attacker began his senior career at Spartak Moscow and after ending his loan spells with Tom Tomsk and Rostov, he moved to Zenit St. Petersburg in 2015.
Artem Dzyuba scored 15 goals for the Zenitchiki in the 2015-16 Russian Premier League campaign, while providing nine assists for his teammates. The Russian forward was not as successful in the 2016/2017 season as he scored 13 goals in 26 appearances for Roberto Mancini’s troops, while having six assists. Dzyuba made his debut for the Russia national football team in November 2011 in a friendly game against Greece, but he did not represent Russia at the Euro 2012 finals.
The Zenit striker scored his first goal for the Russian national team on September 8, 2014 in a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein. Artem Dzyuba was born in Moscow (Soviet Union) on August 22, 1988 and he is a product of Spartak Moscow football school.
Highlighted Team (Chelsea):
Over the years Chelsea have established themselves as one of the dominant forces in the English Premier League. Roberto Di Matteo helped the team win their first ever Champions League trophy (2011/2012), but it has to be noted that they were more than fortunate to beat Bayern Munich in the title game.
Chelsea have been playing at Stamford Bridge since 1876 and they are a real force to be reckoned with at home. The Blues have won seven FA Cups, five League Cups, two UEFA Cup Winners’ Cups and the UEFA Europa League. Rafael Benitez was in charge of the team that faced Benfica in the 2012/2013 Europa League final, with Branislav Ivanovic scoring the winner for the Blues in the title clash.
After lifting the 2014/2015 Premier League trophy, the Blues largely struggled in the next campaign, which saw Jose Mourinho’s second spell with the club come to an end, and Antoine Conte went over to take the reigns for the 2016/2017 season.
