Zenit St Petersburg v Celtic preview: Bhoys travel with slender advantage

Roberto Mancini expects Zenit St Petersburg to put in an improved performance when they host Celtic in the second leg of their Europa League clash on Thursday (kick-off 6pm GMT).

Callum McGregor scored the only goal of the game as Celtic edged the first leg against the Russian side, who were playing their first competitive game in two months after their winter break.

Although Zenit have not played again since the defeat, they did win all three of their home games in the Europa League group stages.

Mancini said: "I am confident that we can improve. We knew Celtic are a good team with good players, a good manager and we knew it was going to be a difficult game.

"But at the same time we are a good team, the only problem is we didn't play for two months. All the players are ready. It is not important to change the players, it is important to change the result.

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"I am confident. We need to play a good game, concentrate, without pressure, this is important."

Celtic made eight changes at the weekend as they were held to a goalless draw by St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership. They have not won away in the Europa League in 13 attempts (D8 L5).

Team news

Tom Rogic is in contention to feature for Celtic after making his first appearance since December 5 against St Johnstone.

Scott Sinclair will be pushing to start but Leigh Griffiths is out with injury.

Opta stats

• Celtic are aiming to reach the last 16 of a European competition for the first time since the 2012/13 Champions League.
• The Bhoys have lost never lost a European match in Russia (P3 W2 D1 L0), winning most recently in October 2012 against Spartak Moscow.
• Zenit have been eliminated from each of their last six European knockout ties in which they've lost the first leg.
• This is just Zenit's third home match against British opposition in European competition, having previously faced Bradford City in July 2000 in the Intertoto Cup and Liverpool in February 2013 in the Europa League, winning both matches.
• Celtic have progressed from their last 10 European knockout ties in which they've won the first leg, last failing to do so in the 1993/94 UEFA Cup, when they lost 2-1 on aggregate to Sporting Lisbon.
• The first leg of this fixture saw 10 yellow cards, with only two other Europa League matches seeing more this season (Sporting Braga v Hoffenheim Nov 23 and Real Sociedad v Red Bull Salzburg Feb 15, both 11).

Charlie's prediction

I have to admit Celtic's defensive structure - which had been all over the place - looked excellent last week to go against my prediction that they'd lose the first leg.

Plenty of my friends point out that Zenit haven't played in months but more importantly Celtic showed they do have Plan B in European games when they know they're not going to dominate the ball.

People might think us Scots are okay with the weather over there, but the conditions are a different level of cold and I'm afraid I'm going for a tough night for the travellers and another Celtic defeat.

Charlie predicts: 3-1 and Branislav Ivanovic to score first (160/1 with Sky Bet)

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