Former Scottish Premiership winger and Russia international Andrei Kanchelskis has predicted the score ahead of Celtic’s Europa League clash this week.
The Hoops return to European action this Thursday when they host the Russian side at Parkhead. And they have certainly been handed a tough draw following their third place finish in their Champions League group.
Zenit are currently second in the Russian Premier League. But Kanchelskis believes that the home crowd will be vital to the Hoops, and predicted that it is going to be a good night for Brendan Rodgers’ men.
“I myself played against Celtic – the atmosphere there is crazy. 60,000 fans who support their team and make an incredible noise,” he said, as reported by the Record. “The support they give their team really drives Celtic forward.”
“It’s a difficult game to call, but if you were to ask me for a prediction, I would say 2-1 to Celtic, which would mean the second leg would be very interesting indeed,” he went on to add.
As the retired winger alluded to, a 2-1 scoreline would leave the game nicely poised going into the second-leg next week with Celtic narrowly ahead but Zenit boasting the away goal that could prove crucial if the Bhoys do not manage to score in Russia.
While Rodgers’ men go into the game not in the best form – they followed their 1-0 defeat to Kilmarnock by scraping through in the Scottish Cup by beating Partick Thistle 3-2 at the weekend – Zenit have not played a competitive game since December and do not return to league action until March, so it may be a difficult tie for the Russian outfit to negotiate.
Nevertheless, there may well be a number of Hoops supporters who would take a 2-1 win in the first-leg if they were offered that result right now.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
