Zenit weren’t good enough to reach the last 16 of the Champions League this season but they might just be able to go all the way in the Europa League.
The Russian Super League leaders came up short against Europe’s elite, finishing third in their group behind Monaco and Bayer Leverkusen, but they swept by a talented PSV outfit in the first knockout round of this and now have their eyes on the prize.
It will be an almighty shock if, with a 2-0 lead from the first leg, Zenit fail to advance at the expense of Torino on Thursday and they should be backed with a degree of confidence to get the job done with the minimum of fuss.
Goals from Axel Witsel and Domenico Criscito mean big-spending Zenit head to northern Italy in full command of the tie with the Serie A strugglers and why they are not outright favourites in the Match Odds market I am not too sure.
Just 6/1 to lift the trophy, and challenging for favouritism, Andre Villas-Boas and his players have failed to win just five of their 19 domestic matches so far this term and are excellent travellers, both at home and abroad.
Only five goals have been shipped in nine away matches in the top flight and out-of-sorts Torino are unlikely to trouble their visitors.
The Italians saw very little of the ball a week ago in the first leg and it was the second of three consecutive defeats in all competitions.
The latest of those was in front of their own fans to Lazio on the weekend and Torino are languishing in ninth place at present in Serie A.
A goal at any point from Zenit would surely secure their passage into the quarter-finals and an early one might just well see Torino down tools.
One can only hope that is the case and I am with the away team in the Draw No Bet which will ensure stakes are returned should this meander to a stalemate.
3pts Back Zenit (Draw No Bet, vs. Torino) @ 10/11 (WIlliam Hill)