Zenit have a home record to match the big boys in European competition and, as they welcome AS Monaco on matchday two, will be seeking to continue in that vein.

Matchday one brought victory for both these sides. Andre Villas Boas continued his record breaking start in charge of Zenit with a win in Benfica, whilst Monaco got a somewhat surprise win over Bayer Leverkusen. Both sides come into this tie at different ends of their respective leagues. Zenit top the Russian League, with eight wins and one draw seeing them four points clear of rivals CSKA. On the other hand, Leonardo Jardim and his Monaco side had an awful start, but two league wins on the bounce saw them rise to 12th, and with the matchday one victory over Leverkusen, this competition poses as a nice break from their inconsistent Ligue 1 campaign.  

Zenit have an incredible European record at the Stadion Petrovski, losing three of 48 games during the past 12 years before last season's 4-2 defeat at the hands of Borussia Dortmund. Out of these 48 games, 30 ended in a Zenit victory. Monaco return to the Champions League after a nine year absence, last season's Ligue 1 runners-up have made three previous trips to Russia in European competition, losing on two occasions and drawing the other

Zenit are boosted by the news that Viktor Fayzulin is available after serving a suspension on matchday one but Andre Villas Boas will be hopeful that Hulk and Garay can overcome their fitness concerns. Leonardo Jardim is without Borja Lopes and Lacina Traore and will have to make a late decision on defender Aymen Abdennour.

Andre Villas Boas spoke to UEFA about his relationship with the Monaco boss, Leonardo Jardim,  saying “I have always had a very good relationship with Jardim. We have had to adapt to new teams and are faced with similar challenges. Yesterday we talked on the phone; it was a nice, friendly conversation.” Before going on to say he is wary of the problems the visitors could pose, “Monaco's experience could play a big part. They have a lot of good players, such as Carvalho, Moutinho and Berbatov, who have played in European competition.”

Not many people will give Monaco hope in this tie, Zenit’s home record combined with Monaco’s inconsistency lead all people to a Zenit win, including myself.

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Josh  Smith
Radio co host. Football coach for Ajax at their Northern Irish Academy (Balon AOA). Will probably find me writing on most sites. Email - [email protected]