Evenly matched teams: Zenit Irkutsk vs Chita match preview

There’s little time for restitution or working hard at the training pitch these days, with both teams having played their last game less than four days ago.

This pitch has artificial turf, which is not Chita's usual surface at their own ground. When playing on artificial turf Chita have performed like this: Played eight matches resulting in 3 wins, 0 draws and 5 defeats with the goal stats 7-11 (scored/conceded). Everyone involved with the away team has to get their travel gear ready for this match as there's a whopping 1000 kilometers to cover before arriving at the match.

Zenit Irkutsk form and stats

Three Pfl home games done for Zenit Irkutsk, who are not happy collecting 3 points from these matches. Zenit Irkutsk has three losses from their three previous games and the tension is increasing in the dressing room for both the manager O. Yakovlev and the players.

The Zenit Irkutsk fans got no joy from their last match, a Pfl game also here at Stadion Zenit: A 0-1 defeat against Chita. A defeat was the result before that one, 0-2 away at Dinamo Barnaul.

This is expected to be a close game, with Zenit Irkutsk perhaps considered small favourites due to their home advantage. Looking back at earlier matches similar to this one (expected to be close with Zenit Irkutsk as a small favourite), we find one game. Zenit Irkutsk has won 0 of these, drawn 0 and lost 1.

The goals haven't exactly been flowing for Zenit Irkutsk here at Stadion Zenit in the league, with less than one goal per game on average (2 from 3 games). Zenit Irkutsk's goalkeeper has had to pick the ball out of their own net 3 times. For more goal stats, check the Statistics tab above.

Chita form and stats

Things could have gone better for Chita in their Pfl away matches, but 3 points from 3 games is all right.

Chita play their second away game in a row, but can be confident going into this one after the 1-0 victory visiting Zenit Irkutsk. The game before that, in the Russian Cup, was lost at home, a 0-1 defeat against Luch Vladivostok.

So, this is expected to be a close game, an even contest. Looking at earlier matches with Chita playing away and similar expectations, we found two relevant matches. Results were 1 Chita win, 0 draws and 1 defeat.

There's been a serious shortage of goals from Chita's away games in the league this season with only 1 goal from 3 matches. Chita have conceded 3 goals in these away matches.

Head 2 Head

These teams' last encounter with each other was the Zenit Irkutsk - Chita 0-1 earlier this season. H2H stats regardless of arena (last nine matches): Zenit Irkutsk 4 wins, 1 draw and Chita 4 victories. As for goals, 5 matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), 4 games had two or less.

Top Goalscorers

Zenit Irkutsk missing players

Chita missing players