Zenit v Malmo: Russians will take three points

Zenit 1.558/15 v Malmo 6.05/1; The Draw 4.3310/3
Wednesday 29 September, 17:45
Live on BT ESPN

Hosts will expect three points

Zenit and Malmo already have a very tough task to qualify for the last-16 and may have to make do with competing against each other for a place in the Europa League.

Both teams lost their opening matches, which is perhaps not a surprise considering that they have been paired in Group H with the reigning Champions League holders Chelsea and the Italian giants Juventus.

Malmo are bottom of the group, having been beaten 3-0 at home by Juventus. The Swedish champions really need to get something from this game if they are to stand any chance of even finishing third. At the weekend they enjoyed a 5-1 win at home to Orebo, but this is a major step up in class from their opposition in the Allsvenskan.

Zenit only lost narrowly away at Chelsea in their first game and will be looking to get three points on the board on Wednesday. They have followed that defeat with two consecutive victories, beating Rubin Kazan 3-1 and then Krylya Sovetov 2-1, over the weekend. Zenit lead the Russian Premier League by four points after nine games (W7 D2).

Zenit will win entertaining match

Zenit are the 1.558/15 favourites, with the draw at 4.3310/3 and a Malmo win out at 6.05/1.

The price for a Zenit win is a decent enough starting point and it’s not hard to add more value. Zenit have rarely kept clean sheets this season, conceding in nine of their eleven games. Seven of those eleven have seen at least three goals scored.

A Zenit win and over 2.5 goals is priced at 2.56/4. Alternatively, a home victory and both teams to score can be backed at 3.613/5.