Ural expected to fight losing battle when facing Zenit

These teams have little in common geographically as Ural have to travel 2200 kilometers to reach their opponents. The trip home will be especially long if the match ends in defeat.

There should be plenty of energy on the pitch in this game, as both sides have had time to recuperate from their last game. Let's hope both teams are ready to give it all.

Zenit form and stats

Zenit have been very solid at home in the Premier League so far, with 31 points collected from 12 matches (10-1-1). This has contributed greatly to their 1st position in the table. Zenit haven’t lost a league-game in 13 attempts regardless of arena, a great achievement. Their last loss was the fixture versus Arsenal Tula, 182 days ago.

Defensively the home team are doing well, with their goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov not having conceded a league goal in 270 minutes.

It's back home for Zenit, who return with a good feeling about themselves after beating Akhmat Grozny away with the result 2-0. Erokhin and Alberto found the net in that victory. Kuzyaev (midfield was the top team player in that game with a rating of 7.8/10. Kuzyaev hit one key pass and dribled past the opponent 4 of 4 times.

Before that, Zenit played out a draw 0-0 when visiting Sochi.

Zenit are traveling soon after this match as the Russian Cup match at Spartak Vladikavkaz awaits in four days.

Zenit have conceded 13 in these home matches.

Ural form and stats

The hunting on away grounds haven’t been very fruitful for Ural so far with only 12 points returning home. The records show 3-3-6 (win-draw-lose).

The manager Shalimov was unhappy after their last game, played at their home stadium Ekaterinburg Arena. Ural suffered a 0-1 loss to Krylya Sovetov (placed 7th). Ural goalkeeper Pomazun took pride in a superb shift versus Krylya Sovetov, but despite making seven saves the defeat could not be helped.

Preceding that game, the 2-2 draw paying a visit to CSKA Moskva.

Many goals are not expected from the visiting Ural as they have only managed to score 10 times from 12 away games in the league. 15 goals have been conceded by Ural in these games. Ural has visited these top teams three times, and 2 of 3 has ended with 2 goals or more!

Head 2 Head

It's not the first time these sides meet on the pitch this season, as the records show this recent game: Ural - Zenit 0-0. H2H stats regardless of arena (last ten matches): Zenit seven wins, three draws and Ural zero victories. As for goals, five matches ended with three or more goals (over 2,5), five games had two or less.

Top Goalscorers

A. Dzyuba 10 goals

A. Erokhin 7 goals

C. Rodrigues Parise Leonel 7 goals

Zenit missing players

Ural missing players