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Zenit vs Juventus: 3 key Zenit players who could steal the show

By Jyotirmoy Halder

Zenit St. Petersburg's players warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League football match between Zenit St. Petersburg and Malmo FF in Saint Petersburg on September 29, 2021. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP) (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images)
Zenit St. Petersburg's players warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League football match between Zenit St. Petersburg and Malmo FF in Saint Petersburg on September 29, 2021. (Photo by Olga MALTSEVA / AFP) (Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images) /
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1. Malcom

Juventus
Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira, Zenit (Photo by Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Malcom is the name you should distinctly remember.

Once linked to European heavyweights such as Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Bayern Munich, a Brazilian brimming with youthfulness, a sharp-as-a-razor left-foot and awe-inspiring trickeries joined none other than Barcelona from Bordeaux in a €41m deal back in the summer of 2018. One year later, he, quite surprisingly and abruptly, was on his way to Russia and Zenit Saint Petersburg.

While Barcelona are no more the glamorous hub crammed with unparalleled talent, that youngster, however, is now one of the most popular faces among Zenit enthusiasts. Aged 24, Malcom is bigger and better than whatever he was two years back. Since joining Zenit, the keen-witted Brazilian has made 51 appearances, logging nine goals and ten assists in the process.

During his short spell in Russia, Malcom has become the winner of the Russian Premier League twice, won the Russian Cup once and secured the Russian Super Cup title two times in the last two seasons. In the Summer Olympic Games, Malcom scored the extra-time winner in the final against Spain to acquire the coveted gold medal for the Brazilian national team.

For Zenit, Malcom has got two goals and three assists (as recorded by FBref.com) from ten games this season. He could line up on the right side of Zenit’s attack on Wednesday evening. He will be looking to cut inside and inspire the game down that right flank.

After all, he will be aspiring to leave his mark at the biggest stage and against a worthy opposition once again.  If lucky, we could witness glimpses of brilliance from Malcolm’s lethal left foot.

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