Rostov vs Zenit St. Petersburg Prediction: Don’t expect very productive match

Prediction for the RPL match which will take place on July 29. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

The team started with a scandal. The team, well-strengthened in the off-season, was banned from registering new players. So far, they have not managed to avoid the FIFA sanctions, and Valery Karpin cannot count on the newcomers - Ionov, Akbashev, Chernov, Mohebi.

Despite the difficulties with the squad, the Yellow-Blue started with two victories. First, on their home field, thanks to goals by Osipenko and Tugarev, the Rostov team beat Fakel (2:1) in the national championship. Then, also at home, Rostov minimally beat Rubin in the National Cup - Ivan Komarov scored the only goal.

The Russian champion also entered the season with a less-than-optimal squad. Daler Kuzyaev left St Petersburg, Wendel did not arrive from Brazil in time, and most importantly, Malcom, the best player of last season, moved to Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, Zenit has not known any defeats so far. Even with Malcom in the squad, St Petersburg won the Super Cup of Russia, beating CSKA on penalties. And without the Brazilian Russian, the team beat Pari NN away in the league with the same score of 2:0 and Akhmat in the Cup.

There is still a lot of time before the transfer window closes in Russia, so acquisitions and sales are possible. But so far, the departure of several leaders seems to have motivated the remaining Zenit players. Claudinho and Zelimkhan Bakayev played a great game against Pari NN. In Nizhny Novgorod and against Akhmat, Andrei Mostovoi and Aleksandr Erokhin came into the starting line-up and looked great. Mateo Cassiera scored two goals - the same number as in the entire previous league season.

If Rostov had not been sanctioned and could have announced all the newcomers acquired in the summer, the team would have had a good chance of stopping Zenit in their second home game in a row. The national champion will likely take advantage of their opponent's difficulties and realize the difference in class. In addition, the players who lost the competition to the phenomenal Brazilian last season are more motivated to prove themselves. We bet on Zenit to win, but we don't expect the game to be productive - Rostov will indeed play organized again and will be able to hold off the St. Petersburg attackers for some time.