Zenit Preview

I apologize for not getting a review of the Betis match up, but I feel asleep while watching the game, nursing a horrible hangover and completely deprived of sleep after only getting 4 hours of shut eye. I saw the first 20 minutes and the last 10, such was the coma I was in. Steve’s game blog, will have to suffice, and that can be found here.

Now for some midweek Champions League action. And again I cannot watch the game! I have class at 3:30, and the professor does not allow laptops in class, which is just plain bullocks. But I will give you a quick preview of this decisive CL match anyways. So lets start with a look at the reigning UEFA Cup and UEFA Super Cup Champions, Zenit St. Petersburg.

Real will travel to Russia on Tuesday for a very important tie, considering Juventus will have little trouble with BATE. Zenit find themselves in a must win situation, as going down again will put them in an almost impossible bind to qualify for the next round. Thus the home comforts will come as a bit of a relief for a team that has struggled in the Russian Premier League this season. Currently in sixth place with 8 matches left, there is a 14 point gap between them and leaders Rubin Kazan, a large deficit. While its mathematically possible, with 24 points still in play, I find it highly unlikely that they will come back to take the title, and even qualification for Europe will be a struggle, although they will most likely parachute down to the UEFA cup this year.

Zenit won their league encounter this weekend 3-0, with goals from Fayzulin, Puygrenier and Dominguez. Pick those three names out and figure out who they are. I will tell you! Sebastien Puygrenier is a pretty sturdy center back with an eye for goal, whether it be from a long distance strike or off a corner. He played for years with AS Nancy, ever renowned for thier defensive solidity. He is a new reqruit for the team, but has already gelled well with the first team.

Dominguez is a Argentine striker/play maker who was a youth World Champion in 01 with Argentina. He has played for Quilmes and River Plate before he moved to Rubin Kazan in 2004. He was named the best foreign player in Russia in 2006, and was sold to Zenit in 07. He has been a bit part figure at the club though with the presence of Andrei Arshavin limiting his appearances.

Fayzulin is a 22 year old winger who has worked his way up to Zenit through a couple of lower league teams. He is an impressive player, with his techincal ability and goal scoring form, and could be the man to replace Arshavin if he was ever to leave.

Other notable players are obviously Arshavin, who I beleive is way over rated and over valued, so I am not gonna wax lyrical about him, the EPL has done enough panting over him. Record signing Danny will be a threat as he will drive forward with midfield with alot of purpose, and will force Diarra to man mark him as best he can. In the same mold is Konstantin Zyranov, a all-purpose midfielder that can one minute partner Danny in the attack and the next be helping out Anitoliy Tymoschuk with defensive duties. Tymoschuk is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, and his talents should not be over looked. He will look to keep VdV out of the game completely, which I can see him doing.

And of course they have the free scoring Pavel Pogrebnyak, who I think is a little under rated compared to his more illustrious compatriot Roman Pavlyuchenko. He has scored a goal every other game for Zenit as well as the Russia national team, and that statistic itself is enough to have the Real defense worried. His size and predatory instincts mean that Pepe and Canna will have to be clearing everything out of the box immediately, because he can capitalize on a half chance at any time.

Defensively they are weak. Anyukov and Sirl are the right and left back respectively, and I do not think they are CL quality. Puygrenier is decent, but I do not know if he is CL material either. And Ivica Krizanac is a journey man center back, who earned his first international cap recently with the Czech Republic. Tymosychuk often goes deep enough to be a third center back, and the backline is often under little pressure because of his good work. Zenit looks to get control of the ball first, then begin to play. They will counter attack when they see the oppurtunity, but they play their own game. Which means you know what.

The ‘you know what’ is essentially whenever a team tries to stick to us, we can more then cope (maybe let in a goal or three) but we love the challenge and step up our game. Vilarreal last year tried it twice and it didnt work, while a recent example is Numancia, who pressed us but couldnt handle it. When a team presses us hard, they leave gaps, which means we have room to pick them apart.

The only injury worries for Advocaat is the long term knee injury of Belgian defender Loembaerts. Faith Tekke, who for me is usually pretty underwhelming, has regained his fitness, althoug he has not had a match yet and will probably start on the bench, along with Shirkov, which means a midfield three of Tymoschuk, Denisov and Zyranov is what we will see, with Arshavin, Danny and Pobs in front of them. Considering Guti could rip them apart with quick through balls from deep, this may be trouble, because the midfield three sits real deep and could cut off the supply between VdV and Diarra/Ruben.

Real Madrid News:

Guti, Gago and Sneijder are still injured, but Canna is fit which is a big plus. That means a backline of Ramos, Pepe, Canna and Heinze. Solid. Midfield will be unchanged as well, with Diarra, De la Red and VdV keeping things ticking. I guess the only question is whether or not Raul plays. Considering this is an away game against a good opponent, then I think Schuster will be cautious with his attack, preferring the hustle and team work of Raul and natural wideth of Robben to supply Ruud. Although its possible that Raul and Higuain both play, this seems unlikely as the best way to unlock the stiff midfield.

I know this was short but its a little late so I apologize. My prediction is a 2-1 scoreline for Real, with Pobs scoirng for Zenit, but Ruud and Robben getting on the board for us. Game is a 2:45pm tomorrow, I think it will be on ESPN Classic on delay at 5, otherwise use the usual sources for streams. Steve may have a game blog up, otherwise comment here, I will be in class but ill try and get a comment or two in with my iPhone. Later guys.

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News

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