Zenit vs UNICS. Match of two contenders for the VTB United League title

On October 2, Zenit St. Petersburg and UNICS Kazan will start in the new season of the VTB United League 2022/23 season with a face-to-face match. The game will take place in St. Petersburg on the basketball parquet of the Sibur Arena sports complex.

• Expert Predictions Analysis
• Zenit vs UNICS facts
• History of the confrontation
• Odds
• Game Totals Prediction

Our Expert Predictions & Analysis on Zenit vs UNICS

Zenit

Last season, the team from the banks of the Neva quite sensationally reached the final of the VTB United League. There she had enough strength to break the series with CSKA from a score of 1:3 and become a champion. Ideally, this is the first title for St. Petersburg in the championship.

St. Petersburg start the new season in a very experimental line-up. Many Star Legionnaires left St. Petersburg. Now you need to play with the roster that you have. In any case, Zenit can now be called the main contender for a new title in VTB.

In September, St. Petersburg played three friendly matches (two defeats and a victory). Then they took the Gomel Cup. After that, Zenit took the VTB United League Super Cup. First, he lost here to Lokomotiv (73:74) in the group, but then a victory over Partizan was obtained (81:65). With these results, the "blue-white-blue" reached the final, where they broke the Moscow CSKA (71:70). Thomas Wimbush was named MVP of the main match of the tournament, and Pascual was awarded the title of the best coach in the competition.

UNICS

In the spring, Kazan got the bronze medals of the VTB United League, beating the Kuban Lokomotiv (3:1) in the series. Then the leaders began to leave the club. In the new season of the VTB United League, the team line-up will be unusual.

In September, UNICS played a friendly match with Zenit and lost to him. Then he played in the VTB Super Cup. Here, Kazan first lost to CSKA (71:76), then won against Mega Basket (78:69), and then managed to defeat Partizan (83:77) in the fight for third place. Jalen Reynolds entered the symbolic five of the tournament. The results of the preparatory process should not be considered the most outstanding, but they are quite acceptable.

History of the confrontation

As mentioned above, in September the clubs met in a friendly match. It was won by Zenith with a score of 75:67. In the last season of the VTB United League, the teams crossed paths six more times. The semi-final series was left for Pitertsy (3:1), before that, in the regular season, the “blue-white-blues” broke Kazan twice. Also, last October the clubs managed to fight once in the Euroleague. That duel was also taken by a team from the banks of the Neva.

Odds from download 1xbet

Bookmakers are apparently impressed by the pre-season, seeing the hosts of the parquet as the unconditional favorite. Zenith success rates will only be multiplied by 1.34. An away win against the backdrop of such events is worth 3.58. Total under 150.5 is rated at 1.9. For breaking through this bar, they give 2. The coefficient on A2 (-9) is 2.09. Install the 1xbet app and place a bet on the favorite!

Game Totals Prediction

The pre-season is at least something like friendly matches or a warm-up before real games, but some conclusions can be drawn from it. It turns out that Peter is now really more powerful. The hosts of the parquet are obliged to take the match, and they will do it. Objectively, they are better equipped and will get a positive result in the case. It should be noted that in September Zenit played strict defense with serious teams, so we should expect the same in the battle with UNICS, which means that Total under 150.5 should take place. Success will be sure. Petersburgers will bring at least three attacks to Kazan under the siren