On Thursday, starting at 17:55, Zenit – Villarreal will be disputed, within the optimal Europa League, the first game, the 2018-2019 edition.
In the sixteenth finals of the 2007-2008 UEFA Cup season, Zenit qualified for the next round after 2-2 in general, thanks to the goal scored in the away game in Spain (1-0, 1-2).
The Sankt-Petersburg group was quite easy after the Fenerbahce double in the sixteen. The Turks have won 1-0 on their own, but Zenit has had many missed opportunities, even a wounded penalty by Robert Mak. In the second hand, the Russians won comfortably with the score of 3-1 and solved the equation of qualification. With a tremendous home win this season, Zenit starts as a big favorite before the first Villarreal sleeve. In the first round of the domestic championship, Sergei Semak’s team defeated 1-0 away at the Ural.
Villarreal crosses a very weak season in La Liga, being in the fight to avoid relegation. “Yellow Submarine” ranks 18th in the standings with 23 points. The group coached by Javier Calleja Revilla has surprisingly eliminated the Portuguese band Sporting Lisbon in the final sixteenth. Villarreal defeated Estadio Jose Alvalade 1-0, then drew 1-1 in Spain. The success recorded on the Portuguese field was the first after 14 games without an extra victory in all competitions.
The Spaniards will have a difficult mission in the Europa League because their priority must be the domestic championship. Zenit is very solid on the Gazprom Arena, and a success in front of Villarreal is a betting result.
PREDICTION: Zenit Petersburg to win @ 2,02
