Zenit St.Petersburg vs Bayer Leverkusen preview - Leverkusen dealt Papadopoulos blow

Posted Tuesday, November 04, 2014 by PA

Bayer Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt has been dealt a blow ahead of his side's trip to Zenit St Petersburg in the Champions League on Tuesday by being forced to leave defender Kyriakos Papadopoulos behind.

The Greek defender not only misses a tricky trip to Russia, but he is not likely to figure again this year after dislocating his shoulder in training.

"He's going to need an operation," reported Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voller prior to his side's departure for St Petersburg. "It's very bitter for us and in particular for him, because he had only just found his feet and scored some important goals too."

Losing the Greek defender was the last thing Schmidt wanted for what was already an uninviting fixture.

"The conditions are hardly ideal," he said. "We don't have much of a break, there is a big change in the weather conditions, the journey is going to be tiring and we have several players out.

"It's not like it's going to be easy for us."

The Werkself made it look easy in the reverse fixture, beating Andre Villas-Boas' men 2-0 at the BayArena.

That result has no bearing on Tuesday's rematch, though.

"I think we're going to have to prepare for a much stronger Zenit side in St Petersburg," said the club's managing director Michael Schade.

"Zenit were not so dangerous at our place because we defended so fantastically well and were extremely well organised, and we're going to need that again."

Victory would almost see the Bundesliga side through, but Zenit can afford to focus more of their attention on Tuesday's clash at the Stadio Petrusky after opening up a comfortable seven-point lead in the Premier-Liga at the weekend.

Zenit have yet to lose a game in the league this season, and after losing their unbeaten record in Europe two weeks ago, they will be keen to bounce straight back.

A win would give Zenit one point more than the six with which they qualified for the knockout stages last season.

Leverkusen's Wendell is suspended as a result of the red card he picked up in the closing stages at the BayArena while Gonzalo Castro is rated doubtful.