Celtic v Zenit Betting Preview – UEFA Europa League 15th February 8.05pm
After failing to make headway in the UEFA Champions League again this season, it is back to the Europa League for Scottish Champions Celtic. They get a tough draw as well against Russian side Zenit who were in blistering form in the group stage of the competition, racking up more points and more goals than anyone else in the competition. Can Celtic gain any kind of advantage at home?
Celtic News and Form
Celtic suffered a defeat in each of their home games in the Champions League this season and in total they only managed the three points which was enough to see them finish in third in their group. While this is their first-ever game against Zenit, they have faced Russian opposition before and from that, they have gone W3 D2 L1 from six. They have produced a W1 D1 L1 home record against Russian opponents before. They did get a win in their last home game against a Russians side which was a 2-1 victory over Spartak Moscow in the 2012/13 UEFA Champions League group stage. Overall it is Celtic’s home form which is a bit of a worry as they have not won any of their last eleven European home games in the main draw of competitions. They are on a five-match losing streak at home now in Europe and in the Europa League specifically, they have failed to win any of their last five as well (D2 L3). This may well end up being a decent game though and over 2.5 goals at Paddy Power is at 4/5 odds* (betting odds taken January 9th, 2018 at 5:04 p.m.). There were much easier draws out there that Celtic could have gotten.
Zenit News and Form
Zenit were bang in form in the group stage of the Europa League this season collecting sixteen points and firing of seventeen goals. That meant that they beat out Real Sociedad to the top spot in Group L. Zenit have met Scottish opposition just once before and that was a big one for them. They beat Rangers 2-0 in the 2007/08 UEFA Cup final in Manchester. This is the eighth season in a row that Zenit have been in the knockout stage of European competition now and this is their fifth time in the round of 32 in the Europa League during that spell. Overall now Zenit are unbeaten in seven European matches, winning six of those, but they do give up goals as they have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last five. They shipped exactly one goal in each of those games and in the Paddy Power correct score market a Zenit 2-1 option is at 17/2 with a 1-1 draw at 11/2* (betting odds taken January 9th, 2018 at 5:04 p.m.). The Russians have made it past this stage of the competition in three of their four previous visits there. They have actually lost three of their four away fixtures in the round of 32 of the Europa League and have lost each of their last four European knockout fixtures away from home.
Celtic v Zenit Head to Head
This will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
Celtic v Zenit Betting Odds*
Zenit 6/4, Celtic 17/10, Draw 12/5* (Betting Odds taken on February 9th, 2018 at 4:15 a.m.)
Celtic v Zenit Predictions
Celtic are going to have their hands full in this one and it may be worth looking at the Russians to get something on the board in this one. Celtic’s home form in Europe isn’t good and with the power that Zenit have produced this season, they are value to silence Celtic Park.
