Zenit vs Gent preview - Zenit defender Nicholas Lombaerts relishing Gent return - 7M sport

Zenit vs Gent preview - Zenit defender Nicholas Lombaerts relishing Gent return



Posted Tuesday, September 29, 2015 by PA

Zenit defender Nicholas Lombaerts is not expecting a hostile reception from visiting fans when he comes up against his former club Gent in the Champions League.

Lombaerts, who joined Zenit from the reigning Belgian champions in 2007, is relishing the Group H clash and only has fond memories of his time there.

Team-mate Artem Dzyuba faced the wrath of Spartak Moscow supporters after scoring a late equaliser for his new club in Zenit's 2-2 draw at the weekend, but Lombaerts is not expecting such a reaction should he do the same on Tuesday.

He told Zenit's official website: "I was there and I still continue to love the club, no one has a problem with me there and I am not an enemy of anyone, so it (a bad reception) is unlikely.

"But it will be an interesting match and it will definitely be very difficult."

Lombaerts, whose current side claimed a thrilling 3-2 victory in Valencia on matchday one, is wary of the threat posed by Gent, especially after the Belgians held on for a point with nine men against Lyon in their first match.

Goalkeeper Matz Sels also made a late penalty save in that game and Lombaerts added: "Yes Gent are thought of as a small club, but they are strong and against Lyon they proved what a strong side they are.

"They play with a high quality, they have good players but we must win."

Zenit coach Andre Villas-Boas, who announced earlier this month that he would be leaving the club at the end of the season, confirmed that star striker Hulk would be fit for the game.

The Brazilian scored a stunning free-kick against Spartak but has been nursing a hip injury.

Villas-Boas said: "Hulk is okay, he's fit and back in training, he's 100 per cent."

Thomas Foket and Brecht Dejaegere are suspended for Gent following their red cards against Lyon.

Erik Johansson suffered a knee ligament injury while training with Sweden earlier this month and is expected to be out for four to six weeks.



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