Tuesday, September 30, 2008

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE .........


ZENIT ST PETERSBURG - REAL MADRID

I am a little concerned about the draw here, but the level ball option eliminates that and it is difficult for me to comprehend how Real, who have won just once in eight away starts in the Champions League, have been made favourites to win this.

The Spanish champions have travelled without Guti, Gaga and Sneijder and have yet to really fire this season, apart from when reduced to nine men, in an amazing Supercup meeting with Valencia. Actually, they won at the weekend, when reduced to ten men, so maybe their best chance is to get someone sent off early !

We all now know that Zenit are a great side and they performed really well in the big win at Lokomotiv at the weekend, star player Andrei Arshavin was not even included on the bench for that, the feeling being that he is still distracted by transfer talk. I cannot believe that he will not take some part this evening, in what looks set to be the strongest possible home line up, with Shirokov and Tekke, also returning to the squad . Zenit lost at Juve, but it took a dead ball strike late in the game from del Piero to snatch the win and that looked the only way a goal was coming. The Russian side had 59% possession and a goal from open play, was looking very unlikely.

With Zyryanov and Danny pushing forward from midfield this is a team with limitless attacking possibilities and they are strong in every position. If they really go for it this evening and Real are on a "going day", we could be in for a rare treat, miss it at your peril !

6 points Zenit level ball 2.06 + asian line.

Back later.

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