Champions League Group H: Zenit and Valencia value for goal glut
Published:
Zenit St Petersburg v Valencia
- Champions League Group H
- Tuesday, November 24th
- Kick-off: 17:00 BST
- Petrovsky Stadium, St Petersburg
- Live on BT Sport 2
Goals galore in both sides
Zenit St Petersburg edged Valencia in a five-goal thriller in their previous Champions League encounter, and there are plenty of signs pointing to the net bulging with similar regularity again here.
The Russian Premier League side need a point to confirm themselves as pool winners, but are effectively that in all but nine, while the Bats need to beat their hosts in order to book their place in the knockout phase of Europe’s elite club competition.
While Coral make a repeat result of 3-2 in favour of Andre Villas-Boas’ Zenit a 33/1 shot, a home win with both teams being on target at a nifty 19/5 price is perfectly plausible and over 3.5 goals in the match is a terrific 3/1 chance. This is because of the fantastic form of the respective teams’ striking stars; Paco Alcacer and Artem Dzyuba.
Dangerous Dzyuba
Zenit and Russia international frontman Dzyuba has four strikes in as many Champions League group games and overall club stats of 14 goals in 23 outings.
Anytime odds of 6/5 reflect his purple patch but, having bagged a brace last time out in Europe against Lyon, a 6/1 price for two goals or more again could also be worth a wager.
Dzyuba does have Brazil physical specimen and AVB favourite Hulk to supplement his exploits with three Champions League strikes from the flank, a couple of which came against the Bats in the reverse fixture. That makes the well-built Samba Boys attacker a credible alternative to repeat or better that display at 5/1.
Paco packing a punch
Los Che’s golden boy Paco came through the Mestalla academy and has rewarded them with five in as many matches coming into this one. Three of those have been the opening goal, so an awesome 11/2 price on Alcacer to net first for Valencia again in St Petersburg looks tempting.
A Champions League goal would further push Paco into the spotlight, with the 22-year-old linked with a switch to Chelsea earlier this autumn.
In support of Alcacer are Bats captain Dani Parejo and Algeria international Sofiane Feghouli, who are both tasty 10/3 prices in the anytime market.
