Benfica v Zenit: Portuguese side can overcome aggregate deficit
Published:Even on the wrong end of a 3-2 aggregate scoreline, Benfica still look well positioned to get the better of Zenit on Tuesday night, and seem a good bet to win in 90 minutes at 4/6.
The home side have lost just once in their past 19 home matches in Europe, and with 15 victories featured in that run, that could be as good a deterrent as anything regarding getting behind Zenit at 4/1.
It is 11/4 that the Russians get the draw that would see them through, as they did away to fellow Portuguese outfit Porto in the group stages, but a repeat of the 0-0 scoreline in that match is difficult to envisage, and the attacking threats in the home side’s ranks should be enough to see them progress.
Their two goals in Russia showed they have undoubted capabilities going forward, and they can score 2-3 goals again here at 11/10, while punters can back both teams to score again at 5/6.
Very appealing odds of 15/8 are attributed to a Benfica win with three or more goals occurring in the game, and that, along with a home win by a two-goal margin at 4/1, should see plenty of attention.
Alternatively, scoreline betting may be preferable, with 10/1 odds for a 3-1 home triumph looking tempting.
Oscar Cardozo understandably leads the Champions League betting in the first goalscorer markets, with the powerful Paraguayan 9/2 favourite to follow up his first-leg strike in Russia by breaking the deadlock here, though tricky midfielder Nicolas Gaitan could be an interesting proposition at 10/1 for the opener.
For the visitors, Roman Shirokov is big at 12/1 to follow up his brace of the first leg with the first goal here, but striker Aleksandr Kerzhakov is more likely to get chances, and can be backed at 7/1 to net first.
