Zenit St.Petersburg vs SL Benfica preview - Shatov expecting tough Benfica test

Posted Tuesday, November 25, 2014 by PA

Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Oleg Shatov expects a difficult test against Benfica when the two sides meet again in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Zenit claimed a 2-0 victory over the Portuguese side away from home in mid-September when Hulk and Axel Tomas breached Benfica's defence.

However, Jorge Jesus' side had been reduced to 10 men early on when goalkeeper Artur Moraes was sent off in the 18th minute when he charged out of his box and brought down Danny.

Benfica are top of the Primeira Liga standings and claimed a 1-0 win over Monaco in their most recent Champions League clash, and Shatov knows the return leg in St Petersburg will have a totally different complexion to their opening encounter.

"I don't follow their league but I did seem them play in the Champions League, where they have been looking good," Shatov told fc-zenit.ru.

"Yeah, in the first match we beat them 2-0, but their red card helped us and so it's going to be a really different game."

Zenit are also top of their domestic lead and returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Kuban Krasnodar on Saturday.

Despite the short turnaround between games, Shatov is confident Andre Villas-Boas' side will be totally fresh.

"We are going to play on Wednesday, we have four days to recover (after Saturday). We should come into the match in good form, and we'll have to be (in good form)," Shatov added.

Both sides are in need of a win in Group C as they are level on four points and trail leaders Bayer Leverkusen by five and second-placed Monaco by a point.

Benfica approach the game after a 4-1 win over Moreirense in the Taca de Portugal, and manager Jesus expects to have Maxi Pereira and Lima available after the duo missed the cup clash.

Jesus told the club's official website: "Maxi Pereira arrived a few days ago, made two appearances for Uruguay and was tired but will be an option in Russia, while Lima did not want to risk it to recover for Zenit."