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. Theyโve won all three of their group games to sit at the summit at the halfway stage. Victory on Tuesday would secure the Bianconeriโs 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.
Hereโs our preview of Tuesdayโs 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 Fridayโs win over Dinamo Moscow and wonโt return for Tuesdayโs 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 Leagueโs 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:ย Kritsyuk; Lovren, Chistyakov, Rakitskyi; Sutormin, Kuzyaev, Wendel, Karavaev; Malcom, Azmoun, Claudinho
Juventusโ Recent Form
Hellas Verona 2-1 Juventus (30/10) โ Serie A
Juventus 1-2 Sassuolo (27/10) โ Serie A
Inter Milan 1-1 Juventus (24/10) โ Serie A
Zenit 0-1 Juventus (20/10) โ Champions League
Juventus 1-0 AS Roma (17/10) โ Serie A
Zenitโs Recent Form
Zenit 4-1 Dinamo Moscow (29/10) โ Russian Premier League
Zenit 7-1 Spartak Moscow (24/10) โ Russian Premier League
Zenit 0-1 Juventus (20/10) โ Champions League
Arsenal Tula 2-1 Zenit (16/10) โ Russian Premier League
Zenit 1-2 PFC Sochi (03/10) โ 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 theyโre 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 Allegriโs Bianconeri should they rediscover the defensive resolve they displayed during their recent nine-game unbeaten run before the Sassuolo defeat.
Itโs 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 wonโt be indicative of any major turnaround in Turin.
Prediction: Juventus 3-1 Zenit