UEFA CUP BETTING PICK - FK ZENIT ST. PETERSB V G. RANGERS

UEFA Cup

2008-05-14 - FK Zenit St. Petersb vs G. Rangers

A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser

Analysis:

Rangers are coming into the UEFA Cup Final at the City of Manchester Stadium aiming to defy their critics after missing out for the past 36 years and should they overcome the odds and beat the Russian side then they will claim the coveted treble season for them here.

Their counter attacking kind of football has seen them score just six goals in their past eight matches as they overcame the likes of Panathinaikos, Werder Bremen, Sporting Lisbon and Italian side Fiorentina in the semi-finals to reach the final.

Under Walter Smith Rangers have a manager who have the experience at the highest level having managed Scotland before. He will aim to silence the critics especially what has been said by Barcelona's Lionel Messi that his side plays "anti-football" or "rubbish football". But ask the likes of those teams that fell at their side and only Panathinaikos managed to score one goal against them in the qualifying round of 32 and in the round of 16, Werder Bremen, known for their attacking play failed to score past them as well as Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-finals and Fiorentina, had to settle for goalless draws home and away before going out on penalties in the semi-finals.

Zenit, on the other hand are managed by former Rangers manager in Dick Advocaat will be eager to get one better of his former employers here tonight. He will look to the likes of playmaker Andrei Arshavin who is expected to shine at the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland. But Advocaat will miss the services of striker Pavel Pogrebnyak their joint top scorer in this season's competition with ten goals for this fixture after he received a booking and will have to serve his suspension.

Zenit are no doubt the surprise finalist after they beat favourites Bayern Munich 5-1 on aggregate and judging by that result alone especially the 4-0 demolition of the German Bundesliga Champions, they will start this match as the overwhelming favourites.

But Rangers will be closer to home as they make the short trip down South to England to the City of Manchester Stadium and will no doubt have the greater support of the fans and like the home colour, Rangers will be turned the City of Manchester Stadium into an ocean of blue colour.

For Zenit's defender Fernando Ricksen he will be lining up against his former club Rangers after he spent six years at Ibrox before. He admitted he will have mixed sentiments lining up against his former club but stated that his task is to help Zenit win this one off match at England.

Rangers are aiming to win their first major trophy, and the last Scottish team to do so is Aberdeen who managed to win the Cup Winners Cup in 1983.

These two teams comes into this Final on contrasting attitude. Zenit have not played a league match since April 19 were simply relaxing over the weekend in Holland, while Rangers were forced to play against Dundee United in the Scottish Premier League fixture last Saturday and are now having doubts over the availability of key midfielder Kevin Thompson after he was injured in the 3-1 win.

Do not be surprised if this is a low scoring match which ends in a 0-0 or 1-1 draw and the tie were to be decided in penalties. And should that happen, Rangers will be the favourites after eliminating Fiorentina in the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup as well as St Johnstone in the semi-finals of the Scotttish Cup before going on to win that Cup. Goalkeeper Neil Alexander could play a crucial role here today as he comes into the side in place of injured first choice Allan McGregor.

I will go for Glasgow Rangers here not to lose the final in 90 minutes and accept the 1/4 ball here.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Pick :

BEST BETTING TIP :

Go for Rangers to draw this match. [Cover with the win]