Zenit vs Samara. Preview
Opponent
The visitors sit at the bottom of the standings, having lost all 12 games of the current season. However, despite their position in the table, Samara remain a tricky opponent and put up a strong fight in every game.
One of Samara’s main strengths is the individual skill of their leaders. Paradoxically, the lowest-scoring team in the League (72.8 points per game) features two of the competition’s top scorers — guard Nikita Mikhailovskiy (21.4 ppg) and forward Dmitry Cheburkin (19.1 ppg). Mikhailovskiy is also second in the League in rebounds (7.3), trailing only Zenit center Andrey Martiuk, who averages 7.5 rebounds per game.
Head-to-head
The gap in the win–loss record of this matchup continues to grow: all nine previous meetings between Zenit and Samara have ended in victories for the St. Petersburg side.
Direct speech
Zenit head coach Aleksander Sekulic on tomorrow’s game:
For sure there is no chance for underestimating Samara because they showed many times that they can play against every team. Lately they were always close or they lost momentum in the last quarter or last moments of the game. I think that they are playing better now. We need to be more careful especially after the fact that we beat them with the big margin. There is no space for us to underestimate anyone. Every next game for us is the most important. So now game against Samara is the most important.
Who. Where. When.
Opponent: Samara
Location: CSC Arena, St. Petersburg
Date: December 10, 20:00 (local time)
Broadcast: VTB United League website, VK Video
