Irish champions Dundalk have confounded expectations by taking four points from their opening two Group D games, but face their biggest challenge yet as they play Zenit.
Dundalk have set new marks for Irish clubs in both of their UEFA Europa League fixtures this season; can they make it three in a row as Zenit come calling in Group D on matchday three?
Previous meetings
• The sides are meeting for the first time in UEFA competition.
• Only six games have been played between Russian and Irish teams in UEFA club competition, with the Russians winning five to the Irish representatives’ one.
• Dublin outfit Shamrock Rovers lost 3-0 at home and 4-1 away against Rubin Kazan in their pioneering 2011/12 UEFA Europa League campaign.
Form guide
• Dundalk are unbeaten in Group D (W1 D1) and have won both of their previous European matches at Tallaght Stadium without conceding (their 2-0 UEFA Champions League play-off loss to Legia Warszawa having come at the Dublin Arena).
• Dundalk are making their UEFA group stage debut. The lone Irish side to have previously graced a UEFA Europa League group stage were Shamrock Rovers, who lost all six of their fixtures in 2011/12.
• Having come from 3-0 down to win 4-3 at Maccabi Tel-Aviv on matchday one, Zenit then beat AZ Alkmaar 5-0 last time out; they are this group stage’s top scorers with nine goals from two games.
• UEFA Cup winners in 2008, Zenit have progressed in three of their four previous UEFA Cup and UEFA Europa League group campaigns. In 2010/11 they won all six matches.
