Zenit Petersburg – RB Leipzig Prediction & Picks (15.03.2018)

Zenit St. Petersburg and RB Leipzig meet, in a return match for this stage of the UEFA Europa League (8th Finals), after the victory at home of RB Leipzig by (2-1) in the first leg. Attention to the home factor, as the Zenit St. Petersburg usually conquer different results at home and abroad.

Zenit St. Petersburg:

The home team comes to this second leg with a disadvantage of 1 goal, but with the advantage of having scored 1 goal as a visitor in the first leg. This is a team that usually makes good use of the home advantage, stronger with the help of its supporters, since in the last 30 matches they register 4 wins, 8 draws and 3 losses in away matches; against 11 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses at their stadium. The team comes to this match after a draw away with Rostov by (0-0). Zenit St. Petersburg won 5 and lost 1 of their last 6 home matches for the UEFA Europa League.

For this competition, record a sequence of 5 wins in their last home games. The team has conceded goals in 7 of the last 10 matches, so it has not presented great defensive solidity, but their offense has scored consistently, as they have scored goals in 9 of the last 10 matches for this competition. In 13 games in this competition, he never got the comeback in the 5 games in which he suffered the first goal.

Zenit St. Petersburg return to play at home, after two consecutive exhibitions away from their fans, which should not be very satisfied with the recent performance of the club, since it has accumulated only one victory in the last five games. The home team has not won three games and in that period scored only one goal, thus demonstrating the inefficiency of the offensive sector. His last confrontation was valid for the Russian Championship, in which he occupies the fifth position, in a match in which he failed to create many chances of goal, tying without goals away from home against Rostov. In the Europa League, the team still has a good chance of moving forward, as they scored a goal in the opponent’s home and now only need a victory for the minimum score. Mancini’s team must go to the field in 4-4-2, with highlight for Criscito acting on the left side.

RB Leipzig:

The away team comes to this second leg with an advantage of 1 goal, but suffered 1 goal at home in the first leg. This is a team that usually maintains its competitive levels in home and away matches, since in the last 30 matches they register 5 wins, 3 draws and 7 losses in away matches, with 19 goals scored and 24 conceded; against 7 wins, 4 draws and 4 losses at their stadium, with 23 goals scored and 17 suffered. The team comes to this match after a draw away with Stuttgart by (0-0). In the last 10 away matches RB Leipzig has won 3, tied 3 and lost 4. The team has conceded a goal in 7 of the last 10 matches, so their defense needs to improve, but their attack He has scored regularly, since he scored goals in 8 of the last 10 matches. In their away matches there is a tendency for goals, since 22 of the last 25 matches have ended with Over 1,5 goals. This is a team that usually scores many times first: opened the scoring in 9 of its last 12 games, of these 9 came to rest in advantage in 3 and managed to maintain the advantage until the end of the 90 ‘in 4.

RB Leipzig already lived better times this season, considering that it has accumulated only one victory in the last six games, a period in which it suffered three consecutive defeats. However, the club seems to be reacting and now is three games without losing. In his last match, valid for the German league, in which he occupies the sixth position, the team played a very balanced game, showing a good defensive power, and thus achieved a goalless draw away from home against Stuttgart. In the first leg of the Europa League, the team managed a small advantage, but suffered a goal at home, which can end up making a difference. For this match, the coach is expected to organize the team in 4-4-2, with Keita standing out in the center of the field.