UEFA Europa League: Zenit St Petersburg vs Real Sociedad preview

UEFA Europa League: Zenit St Petersburg vs Real Sociedad preview
The two best teams in UEFA Europa League Group L clash on Thursday when Zenit St Petersburg welcome Real Sociedad at Krestovsky Stadium. The two teams have never met before in an European competition, but both have a bit of tradition in continental clashes. Zenit have faced Spanish teams on no less than 18 occasions and they won four matches, drew six and lost eight. Real Sociedad have faced Russian clubs four times and they lost just once, 3-0 against FC Krasnodar in the preliminary rounds of the 2014 Europa League. Zenit St Petersburg started their Europa League campaign with a total demolition of Vardar Skopje in Macedonia, they won the match 5-0. However, a look at the match statistics shows that both Zenit and Vardar had the same number of shots on target, five apiece, but the Russians somehow managed to convert all of them. They are also doing very well in the Russian Premier League, they are at the top of the table and still unbeaten after eleven matches. Oleg Shatov is the only injury worry for the home side. Real Sociedad also kicked off the Europa League adventure with a big win, they eased to a 4-0 victory over Norwegian side Rosenborg. They had a very good start in LaLiga as well but after three consecutive wins they suffered three defeats in a row. Last weekend they lost 3-2 at home against Valencia. Juanmi, Raul Navas and Carlos Martinez are injured and won't be able to play on Thursday, while Inigo Martinez might not be fully fit after having made just one appearance so far this season. Probable line-ups: Zenit: Lunev - Ivanovic, Mammana, Mevlija, Criscito - Erokhin, Kranevitter, Noboa - Kokorin, Dzyuba, Poloz Sociedad: Rulli - Odriozola, Elustondo, Llorente, Bella - Prieto, Illaramendi, Zurutuza - Vela, Jose, Canales My prediction: Zenit St Petersburg to win 2-1. Here are the odds for the match at Bet365: Zenit win - 2.20 Draw - 3.40 Sociedad win - 3.20
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