After last season it is clear that Orenburg can no longer be seen as easy points for Zenit in the Russian league. The visitors showed real fight when they grabbed a home win against the champions last spring and that result came at a key time in the title race. Now both sides open the new campaign with solid starts and the game promises plenty of drama on the artificial pitch where Orenburg love to play.
Team Form
- Orenburg started with a fighting 2-1 win over Rostov at home scoring both goals while down to ten men
- Zenit cruised past Akron 5-0 in their opener with Sobolev grabbing a brace and looking sharp
- Orenburg have shown strong character at home and will look to repeat that against bigger sides
- Zenit have made several changes in the summer and may miss key players like Barrios if deals go through
The young forward from the Zenit academy who scored the winner for Orenburg has already made his mark and fans expect more from him this term. Sobolev on the other side stays motivated and could cause problems with his movement up front.
Tactical Analysis
- Orenburg rely on quick counters and set pieces while defending deep on their home turf
- Zenit prefer to control the ball and use wide areas but may struggle if key midfielders are absent
- Both teams like to attack and the game could open up after the break
- Strengths for Orenburg include their home spirit and fighting mentality while Zenit bring more individual quality
With changes happening at Zenit the visitors might not be at full strength yet Orenburg know how to punish any lapses in concentration. The match should see chances at both ends as the hosts push for another surprise result.
Betting Proposal
Local fans are talking about a lively contest where goals could come from either side. The types point to an open game on the synthetic surface and the numbers suggest value in seeing action at both ends.
Both teams to score yes at odds around 2.03
