Zenit vs Juventus preview: How to watch on TV, live stream, team news & prediction

Juventus will be looking to extend their unbeaten run when they make the trip to Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday night.

The Bianconeri last tasted defeat on 11 September and since then, they’ve started their 2021/22 Champions League campaign with two victories, including a 1-0 triumph over Chelsea on Matchday 2. Their perfect start to Group H sees them lead the way as we approach the halfway mark.

Zenit, meanwhile, claimed an imperative 4-0 win over Malmo on Matchday 2 after they ran the European champions close in their group stage opener. If they’re to progress into the knockout stages at the expense of either Chelsea or Juventus, you feel that they must get a result on Wednesday night.

However, Juve have proved in recent weeks that they’re no easy team to overcome despite enduring a historically poor start to the Serie A season. Massimiliano Allegri’s side are slowly rediscovering their identity, and they’ve won their last three games in all competitions 1-0.

Here’s our preview of Wednesday’s Matchday 3 bout in Group H.

How to Watch Zenit vs Juventus

When is kick-off? Wednesday 20 October

What time is kick-off? 20:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Gazprom Arena

TV channel/live stream? BT Sport Extra (UK), Paramount+ (US)

Zenit Team News

Sergei Semak will welcome Sardour Azmoun back to the fold after he missed the weekend’s defeat to Arsenal Tula through suspension.

Magomed Ozdoev is the only injury concern for the home side. He’ll miss out with a ligament injury. Otherwise, Semak has a fully fit squad for Wednesday’s clash.

Juventus Team News

Matthijs de Ligt missed the victory over Roma with a muscle injury but returned to training on Tuesday ahead of the Zenit trip. However, it’s unlikely that the Dutchman will start and Daniele Rugani has been tipped to make his first start of the season alongside Leonardo Bonucci.

Paulo Dybala misses out again, while Kaio Jorge is available for selection. It’s hard to envisage Allegri opting for the strike partnership of Federico Chiesa and Moise Kean again after the tandem struggled to combine at the weekend. Thus, Alvaro Morata could return to the starting XI.

Adrien Rabiot is still in quarantine after testing positive for COVID-19 while away on international duty with France.

Predicted Lineups

Zenit: Kerzhakov; Barrios, Chistyakov, Rakitskyi; Sutormin, Kuzyaev, Wendel, Santos; Malcom, Azmoun, Claudinho

Juventus: Szczesny; De Sciglio, Bonucci, Rugani, Alex Sandro; Chiesa, Locatelli, McKennie, Bernardeschi; Morata, Kean.

Zenit’s Recent Form

Arsenal Tula 2-1 Zenit (16/10) – Russian Premier League

Zenit 1-2 PFC Sochi (03/10) – Russian Premier League

Zenit 4-0 Malmo (29/09) – Champions League

Zenit 2-1 Krylya Sovetov (25/09) – Russian Premier League

Rubin Kazan 1-3 Zenit (20/09) – Russian Premier League

Juventus’ Recent Form

Juventus 1-0 AS Roma (17/10) – Serie A

Juventus 2-1 Alessandria (09/10) – Friendly

Torino 0-1 Juventus (02/10) – Serie A

Juventus 1-0 Chelsea (29/09) – Champions League

Juventus 3-2 Sampdoria (26/09) – Serie A 

Prediction

We know what to expect of Massimiliano Allegri’s Juventus now, especially under the bright lights. With Paulo Dybala out, it’s unrealistic to expect an expansive, free-flowing Bianconeri, and instead, prepare yourselves for yet another gritty display.

Zenit are formidable opposition and the trip to Russia certainly won’t be easy for Juventus. The hosts currently sit top of the Russian Premier League, but they head into Wednesday’s clash off the back of consecutive domestic defeats.

Sergei Semak’s team must bounce back here in front of their fans and they need a result to have any chance of progressing from the group. Thus, the importance of the contest for the home side will spur them on and they could take two points off the Bianconeri.

Prediction: Zenit 1-1 Juventus