Zenit St. Petersburg have enjoyed a tremendous start to their RPL campaign and will expect to maintain such form into Europe on Tuesday evening when they meet Ligue 1’s third placed side from 2009-10, Auxerre.
On paper the Russians will start as heavy favourites. Already well into their stride domestically, they have played over half of their campaign and have yet to lose. With 16 of their 30 matches gone, Luciano Spalletti’s side have firmly established themselves as the dominant force in Russia, claiming 12 victories thus far in league play to open a seven point advantage over CSKA.
At the weekend Zenit somewhat tamely limped to a 1-1 draw against Dynamo Moscow, with their Italian coach choosing to blood new faces Sergei Semak and Bruno Alves, who are both available for the midweek encounter. It was ultimately Danko Lazovic who spared Zenit’s blushes as he levelled matter after Kevin Kuranyi had threatened to give the Police an unlikely victory.
Saturday’s encounter wasn’t ideal preparation for Zenit, who didn’t play the previous week due to an order from the government who were concern that the heavy smog engulfing Moscow posed a health hazard for their encounter against Spartak.
Indeed, two of Zenit’s last four games have come in European competition against Romanian hopefuls Unirea Urziceni, who were rather tepidly dismissed 1-0 on aggregate. A more powerful performance is needed against AJA if they are to really worry Europe’s best, but don’t count against just that.
Worst Draw
Auxerre have made a mediocre start to their domestic season and were quick to make their feelings about being paired against Zenit known after the draw.
“Zenit St. Petersburg is the worst draw we could have had,” declared the coach to the AFP news agency. “It will be very difficult.”
The experienced coach then listed a plethora of reasons as to why AJA will find life just so difficult against their opponents. He cited their good form and the fact that they are halfway through their campaign as vital factor in making the Russians favourites, while he also hinted that his side simply cannot compete with their opponents financially.
AJA have maintained the core of the squad that somehow snuck past Lille into third spot in Le Championnat last term. There have been no major departures from the Stade Abbe-Deschamps, while the only first team arrival has been Anthony Le Tallec, who has joined up from Le Mans.
And there has been something of a hangover from last term in the early weeks of the campaign, especially in defence, where Auxerre are generally so reliable. A 2-2 home draw against Lorient kicked off their season, and that was followed by a disappoint 1-1 tie away against newly promoted Stade Brestois.
If Auxerre, who specialise as a counterattacking side, are to progress to the Champions League proper, they need to raise their level 200 per cent.
TEAM NEWS
Zenit
Probable Starting XI:
Auxerre
Jean Fernandez should have virtually a complete roster of players to select from ahead of this fixture. Alexandre Licata continue to battle ankle problems, however.
Only one position in the squad is really up for grabs, and that is on the right wing. Either Dennis Oliech or Roy Contout could be deployed in that role, though the Kenyan will probably gain the berth.
Probable Starting XI: Sorin; Hengbart, Coulibaly, Mignot, Grichting; Pedretti, N’Dinga; Oliech, Le Tallec, Birsa; Jelen
Prediction
All signs point to a Zenit victory and it’s hard to go against that. If Auxerre can keep this close enough so that they have half a chance in the return leg they’ll probably be happy, and a draw would be a dream result. Luciano Spalletti will want his side to be able to cruise in France, though he will be aware that ideal scenario won’t be easy to create.
Zenit 2-0 AJ Auxerre
