SL Benfica vs Zenit St. Petersburg
Champions League – Group G
Date: Tuesday, 10 December 2019
Kick-off at 20:00 UK / 21:00 CET
Venue: Estádio da Luz (Lisbon).
For some time now, the story of Benfica has been one of unparalleled success at the domestic level and marked failure in the Champions League.
Since 2010, the Lisbon side have left the Champions League in the group phase at seven times while also winning the Primeira Liga six times over the same period.
Failure to translate domestic dominance into European competences can often be explained by the league to contain an opponent of a lower quality, but in the case of Benfica much of the blame can be leveled against how the club operates structurally.
For more than a decade, Benfica have a club renowned for its ability to produce, and then let go to Europe, the players are very talented - Joao Felix, Ederson, Victor Lindelof, Renato Sanches, Nelson Semedo and Raul Jimenez just a few examples - to the detriment of how Conducting team in the long term.
As Benfica now focus on walking into another league title after a meeting with Zenit, you have to wonder if the club's hierarchy will result in some changes in response to once again finish bottom of their Champions League group despite having such status throughout the world.
Zenit, on the other hand, have a very good chance to reach the knockout phase of the competition for the first time in four years as they ride the wave of what has been a very good campaign.
Sitting 10 points at the top of the domestic standings, Zenit has done remarkably in Europe save for back to back defeats to the group leader RB Leipzig.
Having kicked off their campaign with a credible 1-1 draw in Lyon, a victory at home over the last and Benfica showed that Zenit imperious home record could make them a potentially sticky opponents in the knockout phase.
However, while losing one home match in all competitions since July functioning as an impressive record, it means a little ahead of this fixture, which requires Zenit to do something they have not done since 2015 - win an away game in the Champions League.
Benfica against a team with nothing to play for and with the knockout stage in front of the eyes, Zenit rarely have a better chance to claim as a very important victory.
SL Benfica vs Zenit St Petersburg: Predictions
Benfica in the actual season scoring average of 2.32 goals per match. In 11 (84.62%) matches played at home is total goals (team and the opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 8 (61.54%) matches in 2019 season playing at home is a total destination (team and the opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
Zenit St Petersburg scoring average of 1.92 goals per game in the season 2019. In 14 (66.67%) were played by far the total goals (team and the opponent) Over 1.5 goals. In 8 (38.10%), which played much the team is total goals (team and the opponent) Over 2.5 goals.
