The Matchday 18 clash in the Russian Premier League between Zenit and Akron will take place on December 7 at Gazprom Arena in St. Petersburg. Zenit vs. Akron: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Vladimir Moskalyov (Russia)
Matches – 18 (RPL, 2023/24–2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 70;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.9;
Red cards shown – 3;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 22%.
Predicted lineups for Zenit vs. Akron
Zenit (4-1-4-1): Denis Adamov – Gustavo Mantuan, Nuraly Alip, Nino, Douglas Santos – Wilmar Barrios – Wendel, Claudinho, Maxim Glushenkov, Andrey Mostovoy – Mateo Cassierra.
Akron (4-3-3): Alexander Vasyutin – Konstantin Savichev, Joao Escoval, Marat Bokoev, Roberto Fernandez – Maxim Kuzmin, Stefan Loncar, Aleksa Djurashovic – Artem Dzyuba, Vladimir Khubulov, Benshimol.
The starting lineup for each team is based on their last match in this tournament.
Zenit
Sergei Semak's side suffered a 2-3 defeat at home to Krylia Sovetov in the last round. This marked their second loss of the current RPL season and the first at home. Since 2018, Zenit has only conceded more than two goals in a home league match twice. Nevertheless, they remain at the top of the standings with 39 points and are the sole leaders in both goals scored (36) and conceded (10) this Premier League season.
Defenders Nuraly Alip and Strahinja Erakovic will miss the game due to injuries.
- The club has not lost in 8 of their last 9 home matches in the RPL (6 wins, 2 draws).
- Both teams have scored in 4 of Zenit's last 5 home matches in the Premier League.
- The number "1" has appeared in the final score in 7 of Zenit's last 10 home league games.
Akron
In the previous round, Zaur Tedeev's side defeated Orenburg 1-0 at home. As a result, Akron secured their fifth victory of the current championship, winning each time with a clean sheet. With 19 points, the club is in ninth place in the standings. Notably, the Togliatti side has shown weak defensive play, conceding 33 goals this RPL season, the worst in this category.
Midfielder Gabriel Florentin will miss the game due to injury. Defender Konstantin Savichev is suspended for the match.
- The team has not won in 6 of their last 7 away matches in the Premier League (3 draws, 3 losses).
- At least one of the opponents failed to score in 5 of Akron's last 6 away league matches.
- No more than three goals have been scored in 4 of Akron's last 5 away matches in the RPL.
Zenit vs. Akron: Match Prediction
The solidity with which Zenit defended in the early rounds of the current championship has dissipated: even in home matches, they have been conceding regularly. In their last five home games, Sergei Semak's side has kept a clean sheet only once, conceding six goals in total during this period. However, their attack remains potent, having failed to score only against Spartak at home this season.
Akron plays boldly in attack and often succeeds: in 7 of their last 10 Premier League matches, Zaur Tedeev's side has scored, including at least twice in half of those games. However, they make many defensive errors, conceding seven goals in their last two away league encounters.
I expect the visitors to trouble Zenit at least once, and Zenit's attacking capabilities are undeniable. Therefore, I anticipate both teams to score, and my prediction: Both teams to score – yes
