http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/SL-Benfica-c40542 in Portugal.
Zenit St. Petersburg have a decent chance to write a new page in their history by reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the first time. They need to defeat SL Benfica at Estádio da Luz on Wednesday.
The Russian outfit managed to win the first leg 3-2 against the Portuguese outfit at Petrovsky stadium. But things have changed for both sides since the first leg of the European tie.
Benfica, after tasting their first European defeat against Zenit this term, have lost their footings in the Primeira Liga as well. They have gone on to suffer two league defeats and a draw since the crunch European first leg encounter.
Benfica lost their place atop the league table after their arch rivals, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/FC-Porto-c39186, added to their miseries by defeating them 3-2 at home.
On the other hand, Zenit commenced the third Russian Premier League round with a draw against the title contenders, CSKA Moscow, on away turf.
Zenit midfielder, Roman Shirokov, has admitted that they can book a place in the quarter-finals of the continental tournament by defeating the out-of-form Portuguese outfit. Shirokov motivated the Russian outfit and gave them the
example of their group stage 3-1 win against FC Porto.
“It will be difficult to play against Benfica after the game against CSKA Moscow but we will try to play like played against Porto. I think we have a decent chance to reach the semi-finals.” The Russian Cup winner was quoted
as saying.
Shirokov played an influential role in knocking out the Portistas from the Champions League, scoring a brace against them during the group stage. He also scored a last gasp winner against Benfica during the first leg at Petrovsky
stadium.
Though the former Rubin Kazan player is delighted with his European goal scoring form, he warned the Russian outfit against complacency and assured the fans of 90 minutes of gruelling action.
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