Stephen Kenny suggests that Dundalk poses a significant challenge to the perceived dominance of Zenit.
Dundalk Prepare for Europa League Showdown Against Zenit St Petersburg
After a challenging start to the Europa League group stage, Dundalk FC is gearing up for a crucial match against Zenit St Petersburg. Stephen O'Donnell returns to the European squad for the first time since the opening game in Alkmaar, adding much-needed experience to the team.
Dundalk's manager, Stephen Kenny, is optimistic about his team's chances, expressing his belief in Dundalk's good attacking threat. The Irish side demonstrated their offensive prowess in their previous match against Zenit, with Robbie Benson scoring for Dundalk in a 2-1 loss.
However, Dundalk will be without Shane Grimes and Robbie Benson due to hamstring problems, a significant blow to their attacking options. Darren Meenan will also be missing, as he did not travel to Russia due to a bereavement in his family.
The match is scheduled for 6pm Irish time, and more snowfall is expected on the day, making for challenging conditions. Despite the adversity, Kenny described Zenit as an exceptional team with exceptional players, emphasising the importance of a focused performance.
Dundalk currently sit second in Group D, five points behind leaders Zenit. A strong showing in this match could potentially narrow the gap and boost their chances of qualifying for the next round.
Following the Europa League game, Dundalk will face Cork City in the FAI Cup final. The FAI Cup final will be broadcast on RTÉ2, offering fans the opportunity to witness the culmination of both competitions.
In the past, Dundalk has shown their ability to compete against top European clubs, making a historic achievement as the first Irish team to earn points and win a match at the Europa League group stage level. With 26 European appearances and matches against elite clubs such as Liverpool, Arsenal, and Zenit St Petersburg itself, Dundalk has a respectable European competition record.
As for Zenit, they are a strong competitor in European competitions, regularly qualifying for UEFA tournaments like the Europa League and Champions League. In the 2016 UEFA Europa League match between the two teams, Mak and Giuliano scored for Zenit, securing a victory for the visitors.
Although specific expected lineups for the match are not provided, Dundalk's increasing European experience and Zenit's stature make the upcoming clash a notable tie in the Europa League. For detailed lineups or match details, match reports or official UEFA archives from November 2016 would be the best sources.
Stephen Kenny believes Dundalk can perform well on the counter attack in the upcoming match, and with the right strategy and determination, Dundalk could secure a valuable result against Zenit St Petersburg.
Dundalk, with its European competition experience, especially against Zenit St Petersburg, aims to showcase a strong performance in the Champions League, not just the Europa League. With steps counter-attacks and an optimistic outlook from their manager, Stephen Kenny, they aspire to secure a positive result, mirroring their historic achievements against top European clubs.
