[nicko]

I started opposing Bayern after the group games vs Belenenses and Bolton and it was a good choice. So did I in both games vs Zenith, BUT not only because of Munich being clumsy but because I saw the Russians destroying Leverkusen on counters. Fact is in both games Zenith were clearly playing on the break and it worked, defensively the team is just as good as Rangers, the GK and the Ukranian fellow Tymoshchuk are perfect....
Three things are in favour of Rangers - they are entering the game as underdogs, and they are good at the back, plus overall the Rangers players have more Euro experience than the Russians/only a bit though/.
Things in favour of Zenith? Their bonus for lifting the Cup is massive. For the Bayern games they got paid an incredible amount, the Cup is double to them, no player would think about a transfer west bound. In the league games were postponed with FA permit, their Manager on paper is more experienced. Pogrebnyak is missing, but they have 3 other good option as forwards, plus Arshavin is back.
Do these things count?? I don't think so. First of all it is a Final - motivation, passion, ambitions are the same. No Manager will rush things, no matter how confident he or his players are. Rangers won't give the space Bayer and Bayern gave Zenith - in both ''German'' games the first leg to Zenith was away - home team had to attack to get a good result and got punished on the break, in the second leg in both games both German teams were even more desperate to go forward as the result wasn't in their favour. ERGO IMO these games should not be compared as the Final WILL BE A DIFFERENT STORY.
If there is logic Zenith should win by small margin, but in view of my post value is with Rangers. My choice is much more confident now - home, with a bottle of Glenlivet and friends, enjoying a Final, and an in-play bet at HT hoping for an early goal as I simply hate to watch another Fiorentina - Rangers game.
Good luck