Value in Super Cup favourites
The Russian Super Cup takes place this Saturday between league champions Zenit Saint Petersburg and cup winners Lokomotiv Moscow. Zenit made it three titles in succession last season but Lokomotiv, Spartak Moscow and the other candidates will be hunting them down with more vigor and determination this time around. Artem Dzyuba and Sardar Azmoun continue to be the two most dangerous attackers in the division, while Zenit still have both of their services they will be difficult to catch. Most of these two clubs’ transfer dealings so far have been domestically based, Lokomotiv saw stalwart defender Vedran Corluka retire at the end of 2020/21. They will eye an upset and some early bragging rights if they can surprise Zenit on Saturday.
Background
From a betting perspective I am looking for a shorter play in this match due to its unpredictability. It is hard to pinpoint which managers will take the Super Cup most seriously. You have to go back to 2014 for the most recent Super Cup final that did not involve one of these two sides, it is also an identical matchup of the last two years, with Lokomotiv taking the crown in 2019 but Zenit striking revenge last time around.
24-year-old Brazilian forward Malcom’s quest to settle down and develop in Russian football is gathering legs after a tough initial spell with Zenit. This could be a season where he kicks on and earns a move back to Europe, the Russian champions signed him from Barcelona for £40million in August 2019. The purists will be supporting Lokomotiv here, such is the gap in wealth and budgets Zenit have over all over teams in the Russian Premier League. Russia’s group stage exit from Euro 2020 means that most of these two’s international players should be ready to go for this match, picking up a trophy early doors can be the perfect way to start off a campaign. The league begins slightly earlier than most others across Europe, an attractive Super Cup final is likely to spark more foreign interest in the upcoming competition, therefore it is in the best interests of both clubs to take this outing mightily seriously. It should be a glorified pre-season friendly as we often see in the Community Shield in England.
I am happy to take Zenit at a shorter price, they have the stronger squad and will be raring to get one over their potential title rivals.
Post bet chat Marcus's Tips:
3-0 Zenit, Azmoun popping up with the second.