Zenit is hoping to progress to the last eight of the Champions League for the first time, but is behind on aggregate against Benfica.
Andre Villas-Boas is optimistic that Zenit can overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Benfica and reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League for the first time in club history.
This season is the third time in five years that the Russian champion has reached the knockout stages, but its previous visits have ended in disappointment, including when it was beaten by Benfica over two legs in 2012.
This is the first time the Portuguese title holder has reached the knockout stages since that season, when it went on to be beaten by eventual winner Chelsea in the last eight.