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

The second half of the 2021/22 Champions League group stages begins on Tuesday with Juventus playing host to Zenit in Group H.

Juve have started the continental campaign perfectly, quite literally. They’ve won all three of their group games to sit at the summit at the halfway stage. Victory on Tuesday would secure the Bianconeri’s place in the knockout phase, but three points are far from a guarantee.

The feeling in Turin has changed rapidly since these two met in Russia two weeks ago. Back-to-back losses in Serie A has many questioning the competence of the Old Lady and compatibility of Massimiliano Allegri in 2021.

Zenit, though, offered little in the reverse fixture as Dejan Kulusevski grabbed a late winner in what was a drab contest. For Juventus, despite their recent woes, this is a great opportunity to let off some steam and book their place in the next phase.

Here’s our preview of Tuesday’s Champions League contest.

How to Watch Juventus vs Zenit

When is kick-off? Tuesday 2 November

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

Where is it played? Allianz Stadium

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

Juventus Team News

Max Allegri is hopeful of welcoming Federico Chiesa back to the fold after the Italian missed the Hellas Verona defeat on Saturday. Aaron Ramsey, Moise Kean and Mattia De Sciglio remain out for Juventus.

Matthijs de Ligt is a sure bet to return to the XI following the performances of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini at the weekend. The places of Alex Sandro, Adrien Rabiot and Alvaro Morata are far from secure, meanwhile.

Manuel Locatelli should replace Arthur Melo in the XI.

Zenit Team News

Sergei Semak will be without full-back Douglas Santos, who picked up a muscle injury in the recent 7-1 thumping of Spartak Moscow. The Brazilian subsequently missed last Friday’s win over Dinamo Moscow and won’t return for Tuesday’s clash.

Magomed Ozdoev is also yet to return from a long-term knee injury.

Semak may also utilise Sardor Azmoun in place of Artem Dzyuba, who became the Russian Premier League’s all-time leading goalscorer on Friday. Azmoun is the more dynamic option of the two.

Predicted Lineups

Juventus: Szczesny; Danilo, De Ligt, Bonucci, Alex Sandro; Chiesa, Locatelli, Bentancur, Bernardeschi; Dybala, Morata.

Zenit: Kritsyuk; Lovren, Chistyakov, Rakitskyi; Sutormin, Kuzyaev, Wendel, Karavaev; Malcom, Azmoun, Claudinho

Juventus’ Recent Form

Hellas Verona 2-1 Juventus (30/10) – Serie A

Juventus 1-2 Sassuolo (27/10) – Serie A

Inter Milan 1-1 Juventus (24/10) – Serie A

Zenit 0-1 Juventus (20/10) – Champions League

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

Zenit’s Recent Form

Zenit 4-1 Dinamo Moscow (29/10) – Russian Premier League

Zenit 7-1 Spartak Moscow (24/10) – Russian Premier League

Zenit 0-1 Juventus (20/10) – Champions League

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

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

Prediction

Zenit were overly conservative in the reverse fixture and their defeat to Juventus on Matchday 3 means they need to win here if they’re to have a chance of progressing into the last 16.

Thus, I expect to see more from the visitors on Tuesday, but that could play into the hands of Allegri’s Bianconeri should they rediscover the defensive resolve they displayed during their recent nine-game unbeaten run before the Sassuolo defeat.

It’s important Juve win here amid their hunt for the top spot in Group H. I think they will, and perhaps relatively comfortably, but their victory won’t be indicative of any major turnaround in Turin.

Prediction: Juventus 3-1 Zenit