Fulham’s Europa League opponents lost their last league game before the first leg to Zenit St. Petersburg today.
The 4-2 scoreline doesn’t really do the match justice. They raced into a 2-0 lead, the goals sandwiched between a missed penalty for Zenit, before collapsing badly in the second half. It was a bad tempered match too as Perm were reduced to ten men by the end and also picked up six bookings. Could it be pretty physical at the Cottage on Thursday?
UPDATE: Here are the video highlights.
Seen them twice this season now and my opinion hasn’t changed. We are quicker and our defense is better. They have a good keeper but I can’t get past the fact that their defense looks shaky at best and they are slow…slow…slow. They do play physical football but so do most of Eastern Europe.
Regardless, we need to be up at least 2 goals when we head to Perm for the return leg. Otherwise, we may be in for some trouble.
Interesting observations.
That would be my thought as regards the two-goal lead for the away leg too. I think we might have to work hard to get it, though. The Russians are in the middle of their season and we are just beginning ours. Could have to be very patient indeed.