Lazio to all but eliminate Zenit from the top pool
Lazio make the north-eastern journey to the Gazprom Arena to face a Zenit St. Petersburg side, whose continued participation in the Champions League beyond the group stage this season already appears to be in serious jeopardy after just two matches. Sergei Semak's side have been prolific in their domestic division, netting an average above two goals per match, and must conjure up something akin to that to remain in any continental competition beyond early December. Read our preview here:
Up and Artem
To only highlight the contrast between domestic and European fortunes further, Lvy could afford to have several of their key men watch on from the sidelines as their teammates on the pitch dispatched Khimki 2-0 away from home. During that encounter, Semak set out his side in an enterprising 4-3-3, but it's almost certain that he'll revert the shape to a 4-4-2 for this one, for two chief reasons: firstly, to provide his full-backs with greater more conventional cover and support in all phases of play, and secondly, to accommodate the imposing figure of captain Artem Dzyuba in attack. The target man needs to make full use of his ability to hold off his marker and bring the onrushing midfielders into dangerous areas. The likes of the talented Sebastián Druissi on the left flank must now step up and show their worth on a grander stage if they're going to take advantage of a leaky Lazio defence.
Gol-lazio!
Something else to consider for this tie is although both sides did rest players, I Biancocelesti will have collectively had a day less with which to recover and prepare for the game in what continues to be a brutally truncated schedule. All hands were on the pump as they turned a one-goal deficit into a winning margin, deep into injury time against Torino in one of the most dramatic comebacks in Serie A of recent years. The desperation of the hosts might work in their favour, too - whilst it's already been noted that defence is not Simone Inzaghi's strongest suit right now, he has the tactical acumen and personnel to break down Zenit's thrusts forward and counter them. Sergej Milinković-Savić will be pivotal as ever in that role, roving between both boxes, looking for Ciro Immobile to finish off swift counters.
Plenty of rain, no parades
Dzyuba aside, there doesn't look to be many capable for the home side of generating the spectacular or even just the decisive in this match. The threats the visitors possess are simply too numerous for them all to have off-days, which will mean in turn that Zenit really will have to at least replicate the goal ratio they enjoy in the Russian Premier League into the Champions League from hereon in. betway are offering odds of 2.70 for a fairly standard away win, which certainly seems generous under the current set of circumstances.
