Benfica v Zenit predictions, betting tips, odds and lineups (Champions League - 16.2.2016)

Tuesday, 20 October 2020 18:11
Written by Simon Bettarini

Benfica host Zenit St. Petersburg at the Estadio da Luz in the 1st leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Tuesday night. Find below our BENFICA v ZENIT betting preview including free tips, predictions, team news, lineups, best odds, bookie promotions & no deposit bonuses on the match!

BENFICA v ZENIT BETTING PREVIEW

Benfica, who finished 2nd in Group C behind Atletico Madrid to reach the UCL knockout stages, sit just three points behind leaders Sporting Lisbon in the Primeira Liga. They had won 11 matches in a row in all competitions before losing 2-1 at home to arch-rivals Porto on Friday. With 60 goals in total including 34 in 11 home games (9 won, 2 lost) they are top scorers in Portugal.

Lisandro Lopez is expected to be recovered in time for the match, but fellow defender Luisao remains out with a broken arm. Eduardo Salvio and Ljubomir Fejsa will be assessed few hours before kick-off. Highly-rated Renato Sanches is expected to retain his starting berth in the middle of the park as he continues to impress.

Zenit won their first five matches in the Champions League Group H and topped the group ahead of Gent. Anyway, they have not played a competitive game since their final group stage match in December due to the Russian Premier League's midseason break. Domestically, they are sixth, seven points off the pace being set by CSKA and their away form is a mixed bag with three wins, three draws and two defeats.

Zenit added Yuri Zhirkov, Aleksandr Kokorin and Mauricio to their Champions League squad for the knockout round but they are not expected to start the match. Viktor Faizulin, Vyacheslav Malafeev and Aleksandr Ryazantsev are all sidelined.

BENFICA v ZENIT PROBABLE LINEUPS

Benfica (4-4-2): Julio Cesar; Jardel, Lisandro Lopez, Silvio, Eliseu; Sanches, Almeida, Pizzi, Gaitan, Renato Sanches; Mitroglou, Jonas

Zenit St Petersburg (4-2-3-1): Lodygin; Anyukov, Lombaerts, Garay, Criscito; Javi Garcia, Witsel; Shatov, Danny, Hulk; Dzyuba