Short-handed zenit confident

Russian champion Zenit St. Petersburg will be missing key players for its Champions League last-16 first-leg clash with Portuguese giant Benfica on Wednesday but defender Bruno Alves is confident it can overcome those blows.

Zenit will be without Portuguese international midfielder Miguel Danny, who is out for at least six months with ruptured knee cruciate ligaments, first-choice goalkeeper Vyacheslav Malafeyev, who has a leg injury, and Italian defender Domenico Criscito, who has a stomach infection.

However, Alves said that having already got the better of Benfica's domestic title rival Porto in the group stage it can make light of their personnel losses.

"Benfica are a strong team," said the 30-year-old 47-times capped central defender, who played for Porto for nine years until 2010.

"However, I think they fit us perfectly as opponents. I believe Zenit will qualify for the next round.

"We already beat Porto 3-0 in the group stage. Porto are Portuguese champions and they are now stronger than Benfica. I hope we can achieve our target of advancing into the next round."

Agence France-Presse