The first leg of the 2024/25 Russian Cup semi-final between Rostov and Zenit will take place on March 12 at the Rostov Arena. Rostov vs. Zenit: prediction, betting odds, and statistics.
Rostov
In the previous round, the team overcame Spartak over two legs, winning both matches (1-0 and 2-1). As a result, Rostov extended their unbeaten run in the Russian Cup to seven matches in regular time (5 wins, 2 draws). Notably, the team has failed to keep a clean sheet in 8 of their last 10 encounters in this tournament. However, in 5 of their last 7 previous matches in the national cup, Rostov has scored at least twice in 90 minutes.
- The club has not lost in regular time in 12 of their last 13 home matches in the Russian Cup (9 wins, 3 draws).
- Both teams scored in 7 of Rostov's last 8 home fixtures in this tournament.
- Rostov conceded exactly one goal in regular time in 7 of their last 8 home matches in the national cup.
Predicted lineup for Rostov (4-3-3)
Rustam Yatimov – Daniil Shantaliy, Maksim Osipenko, Viktor Melyokhin, Ilya Vakhania – Konstantin Kuchaev, Ivan Komarov, Alexey Sutormin – Ronaldo, Yegor Golenkov, Nikolay Komlichenko.
Midfielder Kirill Shchetinin will miss the game due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Additionally, the club will play in the Russian Cup for the first time under new head coach Jonathan Alba.
Zenit
Sergey Semak's side faced little resistance against Akhmat in the previous round, defeating the Grozny team in both matches (3-0 and 2-1). Consequently, Zenit extended their unbeaten run in regular time in the Russian Cup to 14 matches (10 wins, 4 draws). Moreover, the club has not conceded more than one goal in 90 minutes in their last 17 matches in this tournament. Notably, in this edition of the national cup, the St. Petersburg team has scored 18 goals, trailing only Moscow's Dynamo and Lokomotiv (both with 19).
- The team has not lost in regular time in their last seven away matches in the national cup (5 wins, 2 draws).
- The club conceded exactly one goal in 90 minutes in 6 of their last 8 away matches in this tournament.
- Zenit has not scored more than two goals in regular time in their last eight away matches in the Russian Cup.
Predicted lineup for Zenit (4-1-4-1)
Evgeny Latyshonok – Gustavo Mantuan, Nino, Strahinja Erakovic, Douglas Santos – Wendel – Luciano Gondou, Sasha Zdjelar, Maksim Glushenkov, Andrey Mostovoy – Luis Enrique.
Defender Vyacheslav Karavaev will not play due to injury.
Referee
Aleksei Sukhoi (Russia)
Matches – 7 (Russian Cup, 2023/24);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 24;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.4;
Red cards shown – 2;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 29%.
Match Prediction: Rostov vs. Zenit
Home support often helps Rostov achieve positive results in cup matches. Additionally, the team plays boldly in attack, frequently pushing forward and rarely struggling with scoring: in 12 of their last 13 home games in the Russian Cup, Rostov players have found the net, doing so at least twice in nine of those occasions. However, the club is not always reliable defensively and has not kept a clean sheet in their last eight home matches in this tournament.
Zenit, even away from home, prefers to take the initiative and spends a lot of time attacking. Sergey Semak's side scores regularly: in each of their last seven away encounters in the national cup, the club's players have found the net. At the same time, Zenit is not flawless at the back: they have conceded in 10 of their last away matches in this tournament.
I expect both teams to be effective up front and for both to score. My prediction: Both teams to score – Yes
* Each team's lineup is based on their previous match.
