Zenit to cruise into Europa League group stages
On Thursday evening, Molde host Zenit St Petersburg in the second leg of the Europa League play-off round.
The first leg in Russia in finished 3-1 to Zenit and the visitors will be confident of securing their spot in the group stages.
Prior to the first leg defeat, Molde were on an unbeaten run of five games in the Europa League. The Norwegian side had also won four of those five unbeaten games in Europe’s secondary competition.
The home side’s decent run before the first leg defeat means that they have kept clean sheets in four of their last five outings in the Europa League. There have also been over 2.5 goals scored in five of their last seven games in the competition.
Molde have a strong home record in this competition, winning six of their last eight games while suffering just one defeat in the process. The Norwegian team have also won their last four home games in the Europa League while keeping three clean sheets.
Zenit have a rather inconsistent record in the Europa League of late. The Russian side has won their last two games in the competition but had failed to win in their previous three games, including suffering two defeats.
The visitor’s most recent Europa League games have been high scoring, though, as four of their last five games in the competition have produced over 2.5 goals.
Zenit have won just three of their last ten away games in the Europa League. The Russian side has also suffered three consecutive home defeats in the competition.
A contributing fact to that poor run on their travels in the Europa League is that the visitors have kept clean sheets in two of their last 15 away games in Europe’s secondary competition.
Forebet predicts that Zenit will end Molde’s stellar recent home run in the Europa League by recording a victory in a high-scoring game.
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