Rostov vs Zenit Prediction
🔊 Who will achieve a positive result in the first semifinal game of the Russian Cup (RPL path)? Overall, both teams played two fairly good matches after the championship resumed, earning 4 points each. In the upcoming encounter, both Rostov and Zenit will play only for the win, considering that they have already advanced quite far in the bracket. Therefore, there is no point in conserving energy and fielding entirely reserve squads. In this situation, we will try to analyze all the strengths and weaknesses of the opponents to provide you with an accurate prediction for the match, which will take place at the "Rostov Arena".
Head-to-Head
In head-to-head encounters, Zenit has a significant advantage in results. Over a span of 37 matches, Rostov emerged stronger than their opponent in only 5 cases, while the team suffered as many as 23 defeats. The meeting that took place in the first round of the current Russian championship ended in a total annihilation of the "yellow-blues" (0-5).
H2H Stats Matches and Previous Teams Results
Rostov Team Overview
Rostov had a strong finish to the first part of the season, securing 6 consecutive victories and moving up to a clear seventh place in the Russian Premier League standings. Yes, the three-month break affected the form of the "yellow-blues," but not critically. The team played two matches after the championship resumed and delighted their fans. First, Jonathan Alba's charges drew with such a serious opponent as Dynamo Moscow (1-1), and a week later they defeated Orenburg away on artificial turf (2-1). Considering that the club is not fighting for anything in the championship, Rostov can focus all its efforts on winning the national cup, so we can expect a strong lineup from them. Especially since only one player is in the infirmary - Eyad El-Askalani.
Match Results: Rostov
Zenit Saint Petersburg Team Overview
Zenit is a multiple-time champion of Russia. The last time the team didn't win the gold medals was in the distant 2017/18 season. However, this season, the "Blue-White-Sky Blues" are not doing everything perfectly. The team had an impressive start to the season, securing several crushing victories, but after Maxim Glushenkov's prolonged injury, they have slowed down. Currently, Sergey Semak's squad is in second place with 43 points. Nonetheless, Zenit performed confidently with the ball in their last two matches - against CSKA (0-0) and Fakel (2-0). In the match against the Voronezh club, the team from Saint Petersburg should have secured a crushing victory (5-0 in created goal-scoring chances and 19-4 in shots), but they limited themselves to only two goals. Regarding the upcoming match, the coaching staff will be unable to rely on 3 players, including two right-backs - Vyacheslav Karavaev and Sergey Volkov.
Match Results: Zenit Saint Petersburg
⚽ Goal Prediction
Both Teams to Score (Yes) - is one of the best betting options for the upcoming matchup. This season, Rostov has been scoring quite a lot, especially in home matches. In the Russian championship, Jonathan Alba's team, supported by their home fans, managed to score 21 goals against their opponents, which is the third-best result (surpassed only by Dynamo and Spartak). As for Zenit's attacking potential, it hardly needs mentioning. Their attacking line-up includes high-class performers such as Maksim Glushenkov (8+2), Luciano Gondou (7+1), and Luis Henrique (7+3 for Botafogo in the last Brazilian championship). Therefore, the teams are expected to delight the audience with a high-scoring game.
🚩 Corner Prediction
It would be very strange if Zenit, which strives to play aggressive football against all opponents, rarely approached the corner flag. The team averages 5.7 corners per game, which is the fourth-best in the Russian championship. Rostov is one of the most effective teams in executing set pieces. The "Yellow-Blues" regularly score after taking corner kicks, so they aim to earn them more often at the opponent's goal. In this situation, the only correct betting option seems to be total corners over 9.5.
Editorial Prediction
According to the bookmakers, Zenit is a slight favorite for the upcoming match in question. However, our editorial team completely disagrees with them in this situation. Firstly, Rostov is in excellent form, having not tasted defeat in their last 9 official matches, despite playing against almost all the top clubs in the country during this period. The last time the "Yellow-Blues" disappointed their fans was back in late October (2-3 against Akhmat). Secondly, Jonathan Alba's team is one of the best when playing at home. The team ranks among the top in many statistical categories, including goals (21) and points earned (19). Considering that Zenit's performance has been unstable this season, our editorial team bets that Rostov will not lose. We dare to predict that in the first game, the hosts will even win with a score of 2-1.
Betting Tips: Rostov - Zenit Saint Petersburg
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Comparison of Teams Stats
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