Zenit Saint Petersburg faces a critical in Minsk against BATE Borisov. At present they have earned only a single point in three disappointing Champions League matches and are one point behind BATE. Conversely the Belarussian club clinched their third consecutive Vysshaya Liga championship after they defeated FC Torpedo Zhodino this past week and are riding high with confidence. With a home victory their triumphant season will continue and be capped with advancement to the UEFA Cup.
Zenit is fully fit and coming off a tough 1-0 victory over the Yegor Titov-led Khimki on Saturday. While they know furthering their run in the Champions League is gone, Dick Advocaat is focused upon making it through to the UEFA Cup and defending their title. The only possible absence for BATE is Aleksandr Volodko who will undergo a pre-match fitness test.I will report on the match as it concludes.
