Sergei Semak’s side bounced back from a 1-1 draw with Fakel two weeks ago in emphatic style, beating Nizhny Novgorod 3-0 away from home before edging past Krylia Sovetov 2-1 in the Russian Cup. Ivan Sergeev bagged a brace against the latter whilst Daler Kuzyayev, Claudinho and Malcom were the scorers in Novgorod.
Zenit go into the game top of the league, seven points ahead of the chasing pack with Rostov and Spartak Moscow both on 26 points.
Sunday’s opponents have had less of an impact this season due to their change in manager, with highly regarded coach Vladimir Fedotov taking the helm at CSKA Moscow at the start of the season. In his final campaign for the Leopards last season, Fedotov took the side to their highest ever league position of second.
Vadim Garanin took over as manager at the start of the season, having previously managed Yenisey and Tver in the lower leagues as well as the Russia’s U-15 and so far, the team lie in seventh place, with 20 points. Despite losing 3-0 to both CSKA and Spartak Moscow, Sochi have had some impressive results this season. The Leopards brushed past a struggling Lokomotiv Moscow side 4-0 as well as seeing off Dynamo Moscow 2-1.
Garanin sets his side out in a 3-4-3 formation, with Christian Noboa an ever-present evergreen in the midfield. The 37-year-old scored the winner in the game against Dynamo. The side have a number of ex-Zenit players in their roster including new signing Luka Dordevic from Vejle Boldklub in Denmark. The Montenegran featured for Zenit and Zenit-2 in a seven year spell at the club. Kirill Kravstov also signed for Sochi from Zenit over the summer and has turned out eight times for the club.
The last time the sides faced off at the Gazprom Arena, the visitors claimed the three points in a fiery 2-1 win. Sardar Azmoun was sent off before half time but Artem Dzyuba gave Zenit the lead minutes later. Sochi made the man advantage count in the second half as they scored twice in four minutes, with goals from Zenit summer signing Mateo Cassierra and Sergey Terekhov.
The reverse fixture later in the season saw the game end in a 0-0 stalemate.
Before the game, Semak spoke warily of the threat that Sochi pose: “They’re a very good, very experienced team. They’re near the top of the stats board with the number of chances created, I think in the top five and if you look at the chances created and the expected goals.”We are in for a very difficult match against a very good team.” The manager stated.
Zenit v Sochi takes place this Monday night at the Gazprom Arena and can be watched around the world on the RPL YouTube channel.
