Zenit are already in top gear as they fine tune their preparations ahead of the new campaign, with the Super Cup showdown against Spartak Moscow just around the corner. The boys know they must come into that big clash fully charged both in body and mind if they want to lift the trophy and set the right tone for the season. On the transfer front the club has been busy, bringing in Kevin Andrade and Felipe Augusto while now chasing after young Russian striker Konstantin Tyukavin who would love nothing more than to wear the jersey of the most decorated side in recent RPL history.
Team Form
So far the pre season results have been solid, with Zenit brushing aside Leningradets and Makhachkala Dynamo by a combined score of six goals to nil. That attacking sharpness shows the squad is already clicking even without the new signing from Dynamo Moscow. On the other side Neftchi from Fergana have bossed their domestic Super League, dropping just one point in eleven games while letting in only three goals all season, the best defensive record by a mile.
- Neftchi average two goals scored per match and lead the scoring charts with 25 goals
- Zenit have kept clean sheets in both warm up games played so far
- The Uzbek champions are yet to taste defeat on home soil this term
Tactical Analysis
Even though it is only a friendly, expect sparks to fly when these two lock horns because Neftchi will be desperate to test themselves against the Russian champions and prove they belong on the big stage. Zenit will likely rotate a few faces but still want to maintain their high pressing style and quick transitions that have brought them so much success lately. The visitors will sit compact, look to hit on the break and hope their star attackers can grab at least one goal against a defense that has looked mean in pre season.
With both sides showing real intent to play forward and create chances, the game should open up nicely after the break, giving fans plenty of entertainment even if the result does not count in any official table.
Betting Proposal
Given how freely Neftchi score and the fact that Zenit have shown they can be breached when they push numbers forward, the smart money is on both teams finding the net. Oga, both teams to score is the value call at 1.60 and it looks like the most likely outcome in this tasty friendly.
