Chelsea vs. Zenit St. Petersburg 9/14/21 UEFA Champions League Soccer Pick, Odds, and Prediction

Chelsea is welcoming Zenit St. Petersburg to Stamford Bridge in round 1 of Group H of the UEFA Champions League. Chelsea has been on absolute fire lately, and they are playing great and with confidence on both ends. Zenit is the best team in Russia, but the Champions League is another 2 steps above, and I’m not sure Zenit has what it takes to compete here.

Chelsea is undefeated in their last 9 games, and they have won 3 of their first 4 games in the EPL so far. During this 5-game streak without a loss, Chelsea has scored 9 goals while conceding only 1 goal, and they are looking absolutely great. In their last game against Aston Villa, Chelsea has had 57% of ball possession, 4 shots on goal, 4 corner kicks, 2 big chances created, and 83% of the correct passes. Thanks to a brilliant performance from Mateo Kovacic, Chelsea has won this game 3-0. In the last season’s Champions League, nobody expected Chelsea to get further than the quarterfinals, but once they signed Thomas Tuchel, they have improved immensely on both ends, and they have won the Champions League against all odds. Chelsea has made some big signings this offseason, they have increased their depth and quality, and they are looking like a team ready to destroy everyone who gets in front of them.

Zenit is the best team in Russia, they have won the title last 3 seasons in a row, and they are the top once again after 7 games. In their last games against Akhmat at home, Zenit was the dominant team with 62% of ball possession, 9 shots on goal, 6 corner kicks, 2 big chances created, and 86% of the correct passes. It didn’t take long for Zenit to score a goal, and they scored 2 more after that, which was enough for a 3-1 win. Ozdoev and Karavaev are the only 2 injured players for Zenit as of right now. I have said this before, Zenit is a great team, for the Russian Premier League, but I just don’t think they have enough quality beyond their starting eleven to compete in the Champions League, and I honestly think they will be lucky if they end up in 3^rd place which will get them into the Europa League.

Chelsea hasn’t lost in their last 9 games, while Zenit hasn’t lost any of their last 20 games, but I think that streak is ending here. Chelsea is the better team here, and they are playing at home. I’m taking Chelsea above anyone right now.