Chelsea to start UCL Group H campaign with win over Zenit
Chelsea vs Zenit - 14/09/2021
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Chelsea have started the season in excellent form. After winning the UEFA Super Cup against Villarreal on penalties, the reigning Champions League winners are four-matches unbeaten in the Premier League.
On Tuesday, the Blues will host Russian Premier League champions Zenit St. Petersburg. The match will be the first Champions League meeting between Chelsea and Zenit St. Petersburg. Russian club is unbeaten this season in seven matches in the Russian Premier League.
The Russian top flight doesn’t have the cache it did just a few years ago and hope isn’t high that a club from the league will go deep in any of the European competitions.
Zenit St. Petersburg are coming off of a 3-1 win against Akhmat. The Lions were up 2-0 by halftime thanks to goals from Wendel and Aleksandr Yerokhin. Barcelona bust Malcom scored the third in the second half.
Chelsea are coming off of a 3-0 win against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have conceded just once this season in four matches. Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel’s team has scored nine goals.
Romelu Lukaku has hit the ground running since returning to Chelsea. He has three goals in just three matches.
Head coach Sergei Semak’s Zenit St. Petersburg are led in goals by Sardar Azmoun and Aleksandr Erokhin. They each have five goals apiece in the Russian Premier League.
Tuchel has three players on the injury list for Chelsea. Forward Christian Pulisic is ruled out of the game with an ankle injury. Midfielder N’Golo Kante could be back from an ankle injury and centre-back Thiago Silva is set to take a late fitness test.
Defender Reece James will be available for the match after missing the Aston Villa game due to a suspension. James was sent off against Liverpool prior to the international break due to a handball preventing a goalscoring opportunity.
Semak has just one player on the injury list going into the midweek Champions League fixture. Midfielder Magomed Ozdoev is ruled out until October due to a ligament injury.
Chelsea have a big weekend match against Tottenham Hotspur coming up on Premier League matchday 5. Tuchel is still likely to play his strongest side possible against Zenit St. Petersburg.
The Blues have been brilliant in defence and should continue their form in the Champions League. Chelsea have won to nil in three of four games this season and should do it once more against Zenit St. Petersburg.
Chelsea should win with a clean sheet and under 2.5 goals being scored. The gulf in quality between the English Premier League and Russian Premier League should be very obvious this week as the Blues claim max points.
Home team
Away team
Pred
Correct score
Avg. goals
Weather conditions
Coef.
Score
Live
coef.
UCL
543016
1
1 - 0
2.33
15°
1.20
1.20
7.00
13.00
-1
1
-1
1 - 0(0 - 0)
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