Zenit St Petersburg
- Zenit have won four of their last five games in all competitions, losing one, and posted multiple clean sheets.
- Zenit have been the best and most consistent team in Russia for years and Sergei Semak’s possession-based approach to the game ensures they always have the ball and the game under control.
- Zenit have been rock solid at the back lately, conceding just once in their last four and posting several clean sheets.
FC Dynamo Makhachkala
- FC Dynamo Makhachkala are struggling in the league, but they are a tough and well-organised cup opponent and will arrive at St. Petersburg with cup spirit and a plan to upset the apple cart of Zenit St. Petersburg’s cup campaign.
- Vadim Yevseyev’s side have won two, lost two and drawn one of their last five and are around 13th-14th in the table on around 18 points from 20 matches.
- Dynamo have been relatively blunt in attack in the league, netting just three times in their last five outings.
- However, they have found the net in recent cup ties.
Recent meetings
Zenit St Petersburg have won all three competitive meetings with Dynamo Makhachkala in the Russian Premier League since 2024.
Key Players
- Their best players are very good, like midfield screen and ball distributor Wendel and holding midfielder Wilmar Barrios, who do the dirty work, and Maksim Glushenkov, who is currently Zenit’s top scorer and is a constant threat to the defense, with his late runs and clinical finishing.
- Aleksandr Sobolev gives Zenit’s front line some bulk and muscle, and he scored in the last Cup round.
- Mohammadjavad Hosseinnejad and Houssem Mrezigue are Dynamo’s most creative players, Hosseinnejad especially so, as he is the team’s primary dead-ball specialist and a real spark for his side when they transition to attack.
- Gamid Agalarov is the key man up top, but he has modest scoring numbers this season, so Zenit should keep him quiet on Wednesday.
Betting Insights
- The bookies have made the hosts 1.46 favourites to get the victory, with Makhachkala long shots at 8.5 and the draw at 4.62.
- 'Both teams to score - No' at 1.5 is probably the best alternative to backing Zenit to win.
Prediction
Zenit’s depth and experience of playing in big games in this competition should be more than enough to ensure progression to the next round, although Dynamo’s cup spirit and organisation should make this a much closer match than the odds imply.
