Sochi – Zenit

Zenit and Sochi will not score more than three goals

On Saturday 25 June, the second match of the tournament will take place at the Match Premier Cup. Zenit will take on Sochi in St Petersburg. In the first meeting, the St Petersburg side failed to beat Nizhny Novgorod. Semak's charges had an advantage but failed to convert it into goals. They were limited to just one goal by Malcom. Nizhny Novgorod converted a chance from a standard position. Otherwise, there were few questions about Zenit's defence. Zenit had already shown they were ready to throw their main legionaries into the fray. Malcom and Claudinho were involved in the match. Wilmar Barrios also returned to training. It makes sense that Zenit's lineup could be stronger against Sochi. There are a lot of questions about the southerners. The team retained its core of players over the summer. They even strengthened the defense. One of the best defenders of the FNL Meshchaninov has been signed. The problem is that the main star - coach Vladimir Fedotov left. Now the team management put their faith in Vadim Garanin's talent. That said, the specialist has never worked at a high level. He has only six months of successful experience in Yenisey in the FNL. Expectations for Sochi after last season are very high, but a lot of it was due to the coach's thinking. Garanin has a completely different football. The specialist is more focused on attack and high pressing. Sochi have a fairly aged squad, few players with good technique. The southerners' prospects do not look too promising. Noboy, for example, is 37 years old. The Ecuadorian remains a key player in the team. Bookmakers give Zenit as favourites at very low odds. Sochi are quoted almost at the level of Nizhny Novgorod. There are a lot of questions about Garanin. It's far from certain that the team will adjust to a new style of play from the first games. Against Zenit there won't be much risk. Against Sochi and the uncertainty with the coach that was in June. The club has been working with Garanin for just over a week. Before that there was hope that Fedotov would stay with the team. In the end, there are too many mysteries regarding Sochi. The bookmakers give a base total of three goals for this encounter. A somewhat strange choice, given Zenit's pragmatic style, also against a backdrop of pressure. The last encounter in the RPL, the opponents finished without goals at all. It is logical to assume that four goals, even if they work together, will be difficult to score. Zenit can use the rotation. Sochi, for their first training game, will be happy with a peaceful outcome as well. Plus there is the psychological factor. The guests had previously put in a good performance at the end of the season and solved all the problems. Now there could be a kind of devastation.