Does Zenit St. Petersburg continue the high flight?
Nine matchdays after the start of this year’s Euroleague, Zenit St. Petersburg stands on one of the eight starting spots for the play-offs. So far, the Russian top club has already recorded six wins in nine group games on the international stage. Since their last defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, Zenit have won five in a row across all competitions.
That winning streak is now set to continue against the Berliners. In contrast to Zenit St. Petersburg, Alba Berlin have only won once in the last four matchdays. Most recently, Alba lost their home game against Anadolu Efes and even conceded 90 points. It is quite possible that the next setback will follow against Zenit.
The capital’s basketball players are rated as underdogs by the best betting providers in Russia. For Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Alba Berlin, odds of up to 4.25 are currently offered for tip 2. The bookmakers’ assessment is by no means surprising. Zenit recently celebrated an impressive home victory over Olympiakos Piraeus and should therefore not have too much trouble against the German guests.
Zenit St. Petersburg – Statistics & current form
Zenit St. Petersburg is currently in great shape and is one of the secret favourites after a promising start in the group phase of the Euroleague. In nine group games, Zenit have only lost three times so far. Those defeats came against elite teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona and CSKA Moscow.
Only one of the three defeats was at Zenit’s own stadium. Because head coach Xavi’s team has won five games in a row since then, the Russian representatives are, as expected, the clear favourites for the home game against the Berliners. The last time Alba was hosted in the Sibur Arena in St. Petersburg, Zenit won 87:71.
We don’t rule out a win of that magnitude this time either. At home, Zenit have one of the best defenses in the 2021/22 Euroleague, with Xavi’s team conceding an average of just 69.5 points per home game.
Next demonstration of power from Zenit?
On the offensive side of the ball, Conner Frankamp and Billy Baron have made a big splash for Zenit. Statistically, Frankamp is one of the best three-pointers in the current Euroleague, after all, the US American has a 3FG rate of 48.3% after nine games.
It is quite possible that Frankamp will also be the decisive factor behind the line against the Berliners. The 26-year-old was already one of the team’s top scorers in the last two group games. Internally, the Zenit list is currently headed by Jordan Loyd, who averaged 12.80 points per group game.
Before the match against Berlin, Zenit had already warmed up at home against Olympiakos. Against the Greek top club, Xavi’s team scored a total of 84 points. Especially in the first half, the Russian representative flexed its offensive muscles (49 points).
Predicted starting five of Zenit St. Petersburg:
Frankamp – Gudaitis – Loyd – Mickey – Ponitka
Alba Berlin – Statistics & current form
Alba Berlin have had a mixed start to the Euroleague 2021/22 so far. After nine matchdays, the Berliners are still in 15th place in the table. Because three of the last four group games were lost, Alba also missed the connection to the starting positions for the play-offs.
It is therefore all the more important to initiate a turnaround in the away game in St. Petersburg. Although Alba Berlin recently celebrated a comfortable cup win at the Bayreuth basketball team, we think it is more than daring to make a prediction on the guests at Zenit vs.
Against Anadolu Efes, not only Alba’s offence delivered a poor performance, but also the defence. After all, 90 points were conceded against the Turkish representative, who started this year’s Euroleague as defending champions in a rather mixed fashion – 51 of them in the first half.
Does Alba show a defiant reaction?
For the German champions, an away win in St. Petersburg would be of great importance, especially as it would reduce the gap to the starting positions for the play-offs. In two attempts so far, there has been one win and one defeat at the upcoming opponent. The last time the Albatrosses played in St. Petersburg, they were outclassed by the Russian representatives.
Because Alba Berlin has strengthened itself since then, it remains to be seen how the capital’s basketballers will present themselves this time in Russia. Compared to their recent performance against Anadolu Efes, the Albatrosses will have to improve considerably to take anything worthwhile home from St. Petersburg.
Betting fans who want to bet on the German guests in Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Alba Berlin can pick up attractive betting odds if they are successful. Head coach Israel Gonzalez has recently been spared any further personnel worries and will tackle the hurdle in St. Petersburg with the same squad that was already in action on the last matchday in the Euroleague.
Predicted Starting-Five of Alba Berlin:
Da Silva – Eriksson – Lo – Olinde – Sikma
Zenit St. Petersburg – Alba Berlin Direct comparison / H2H-balance
Four times the two clubs have met on the international stage. In the 2019/20 season, the Albatrosse from Berlin prevailed against the Russian representatives in the first and second legs. On the other hand, Zenit St. Petersburg won two matches in a row against Alba Berlin last season. Among them was the last meeting in March 2021, where Zenit celebrated an 87:71 victory in the Sibur Arena.
Zenit St. Petersburg – Alba Berlin Tip
In the current condition of the Russian host, it would be more than surprising if the current winning streak ends against the internationally weak guests from Berlin. After all, the Albatrosse have lost three of their last four group games in the Euroleague, including the bitter home defeat against Anadolu Efes.
Alba Berlin even conceded 90 points against the defending champions from Turkey. Considering how strong Zenit was against Olympiakos recently, it is obvious that the next defeat on the international stage will follow for the Berliners in St. Petersburg.
We expect a one-sided match on Wednesday evening, which will be clearly dominated by the Russian hosts even before the change of ends. We therefore think it would be a good idea to bet on a handicap win for the home side with at least a ten-point lead. For Zenit St. Petersburg vs. Alba Berlin, betting odds of up to 1.91 are offered. We are betting six units.
