Zenit St. Petersburg vs Lyon UCL Matchday 5 Odds, Picks & Betting Preview
- French side can clinch last 16 place with win in Russia
- The teams drew 1-1 in meeting on Matchday 1
- Struggling Zenit have lost two successive matches but are slight +145 favorites on Matchday 5
Lyon will secure their place in the Champions League last 16 if they beat Group G opponents Zenit St. Petersburg in Russia on Wednesday.
A third successive defeat would mean that Zenit cannot progress after they host the French side on Matchday 5 on November 27, at Gazprom Arena, St. Petersburg, at 12:55 pm EST.
UCL Group G Zenit St. Petersburg vs Lyon Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zenit St.Petersburg | pk -125 | +145 | Ov2½,3 +100 |
| Lyon | pk +109 | +186 | Un2½,3 -116 |
| Draw | N/A | +213 | N/A |
Odds taken Nov. 21
The oddsmakers think it will be a tight affair, with Zenit slightly favored for the win at +145. Lyon are priced at +186 with the draw an inviting + 213.
Lyon are in second place in the standings with seven points behind leaders Red Bull Leipzig, who have nine points.
Ligue 1 Side Trail Leaders Leipzig
Zenit are third with four points. There was a 1-1 draw between Lyon and Zenit in France on Matchday 1.
Another draw looks to be the best value on offer here.
Memphis Depay scored a 51st-minute penalty for the home team after Sardar Azmoun had put Zenit ahead four minutes before half-time in that Matchday 1 meeting.
A 3-1 defeat of Benfica on Matchday 4 restored Lyon’s hopes of reaching the last 16 after they had suffered a surprise 2-1 defeat away against the Portuguese side on Matchday 3.
All of @SebadriussiOk's goals for Zenit 💙 🇦🇷pic.twitter.com/RC8fTd74gV
— FC Zenit in English✨ (@fczenit_en) November 18, 2019
Zenit’s only win was a 3-1 success at home against Benfica on Matchday 2.
Lyon had shown their quality with a 2-0 victory away in Leipzig on Matchday 2.
Zenit’s only win was a 3-1 success at home against Benfica on Matchday 2.
They were subsequently beaten in two fixtures against Leipzig – 2-1 in Germany and then 2-0 in the return in St. Petersburg.
Zenit won twice against Lyon when they met in the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League group stage.
The Russians won 3-1 at home and then secured a 2-0 victory away from home as they went on to finish top of the group.
Seven Wins in Nine at Home
Zenit – Russian champions last season – have won seven of their last nine home European matches.
They were top of the current Russian Premier League table after 16 games with 11 wins, three draws and two defeats.
Lyon are enduring a disappointing season in France’s Ligue 1.
UCL Group G Zenit St. Petersburg vs Lyon Statistics
| 1 | Wins | 2 |
| 2 | Losses | 1 |
| 1 | Draws | 1 |
| 5 | Goals | 7 |
| 39 | Goal Attempts | 39 |
| 77% | Passing Accuracy | 83% |
| 42% | Possession | 52% |
They were beaten 2-1 away at major rivals Marseille in their most recent Ligue 1 game.
Zenit’s most recent domestic fixture delivered a 1-0 win away at Arsenal Tula.
This is Lyon’s fourth season in the last five in the UCL group stage.
However, they have lost only three times in their last 16 European matches – winning six times and drawing seven times.
Man Utd have first option on signing Memphis Depay from Lyon, Juninho confirms | https://t.co/W1aEWAkCKq pic.twitter.com/Vkf8f25IPT
— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) November 13, 2019
This is Lyon’s fourth season in the last five in the UCL group stage. With 16 appearances at this point of the competition, they surpass the participation of any other French club. They were also semifinalists in 2010.
Zenit has never lost at home against French opposition after four wins and two draws. In last season’s UEFA Europa League group stage, they defeated Bordeaux 2-1.
Best Bet: Draw (+213)
John Dillon is a leading member of the UK's sporting media, having spent three decades as a national newspaper soccer and sports writer, broadcaster and author. He has covered five World Cups, six European Championships and was Chief Sports Writer at the Daily Express for 14 years.
