Zenit St. Petersburg v AZ Alkmaar Betting Tips

These two sides will feel they are the two favourites to advance from Group D in this year’s Europa League. Whilst Zenit are the favourites here, they have not had a good time in European football over the last few years so do not underestimate AZ Alkmaar’s chances on Thursday night.

Zenit pulled off one of the greatest comebacks you will ever see a fortnight ago. The Russian side were 3-0 down in the 76th minute away in Tel Aviv but managed to somehow recover and pull off a dramatic 4-3 victory thanks to Luka Djordjevic’s 92nd minute winner.

Going into that match Zenit had been on a good run in the Russian Premier League as they look to clinch the title back from CSKA Moscow. They have carried on their decent form since that match in Tel Aviv by thrashing Rubin Kazan 4-1, before earning a 2-2 draw against Anzhi Makhachkala. However, it must be pointed out that Zenit should have won that game and conceded two sloppy goals when they were 2-0 up in Dagestan.

Although Spartak Moscow and CSKA Moscow have been grabbing the headlines in Russia, Mirceu Lucescu’s Zenit side have sneaked into the title race somewhat under the radar and are one of only two teams unbeaten in the Russian Premier League this season.

One of the players who has been instrumental in Zenit’s performances has been summer signing Giuliano. The attacking midfielder has turned in some impressive displays for his new club and has four goals in six Russian Premier League matches, whilst he was also on the score-sheet for Zenit’s comeback in Tel Aviv – also assisting three in that game. The odds on the Brazilian to find the back of the net in St. Petersburg on Tuesday look good for punters at 2/1.

UEFA’s ridiculous decision to have this match start at 22:05 local time may have a slightly negative impact on Zenit but I am sure the players are professional enough to deal with that. It is more the fans that one feels sorry for as they face a late one on a work/school night. Nice work trying to attract the kids to football in a country where ice hockey tends to dominate UEFA…

AZ Alkmaar took on minnow Irish side Dundalk on match-day one but could only come away with a draw. This was despite being at home and having a man advantage after Stephen O’Donnell was sent off for Dundalk. Although Dundalk would have double the amount of motivation of usual opponents given their underdog status, this was an unforgiveable result for the Dutch side. Having not won the easiest fixture in the group they now find themselves under increasing pressure to get results against the better sides, starting away in St. Petersburg on Thursday night.

John van den Brom’s side actually won their following two fixtures but could only draw against out-of-sorts Go Ahead Eagles despite being 2-0 up. Having said that they are only a couple of points off the European spots in the Eredivisie, with a long way to go yet.

As we’ve mentioned several times before, the top Dutch sides score a lot of goals a domestic level due to the inferiority of some opposition. However, this is not the case with AZ who have scored just 12 goals in the league this season. When coming up against the better sides in Europe, including Zenit, I doubt they will threaten too much.

The general betting advice would be to go with Zenit in any profitable way possible – firstly by looking at Zenit to win to nil at 6/4. The Blue, White and Navys are in good form and will fancy their chances against AZ Alkmaar. Lucescu’s side may not be the best defensively but, nevertheless, I cannot see a mediocre Alkmaar attack bothering them and Zenit should put their Dutch opponents to the sword.

Finally I would look at ‘Zenit to Win & Over 2.5 Goals’ at 11/10. Zenit are in good scoring form – something they are fancied to continue in a decent win on Thursday night.

See more Europa League tips here.