PREVIEW-Soccer-Zenit bid to emulate CSKA in UEFA Cup final

By Justin Palmer

LONDON, May 12 (Reuters) - Zenit St Petersburg chase their first European silverware when the free-scoring Russian champions take on Rangers in the UEFA Cup final at the City of Manchester stadium on Wednesday (1845).

Zenit, bidding to become the second Russian side in four seasons to lift the trophy after CSKA Moscow's success in 2005, have produced some memorable performances en route to their first European final.

The Russians overcame Villarreal and Olympique Marseille in the early knockout rounds before making the rest of Europe sit up with a 4-1 quarter-final, first-leg demolition of Bayer Leverkusen in Germany.

Then, in the semis, Zenit held Bayern Munich at home before stunning the four-time European champions with a 4-0 rout in the return to qualify for the final in style.

Zenit coach Dick Advocaat said the UEFA Cup final was the most important game of the season for his club, who have made an indifferent start to the defence of their Russian title.

"That's what I told my players," the Dutchman told reporters on Friday following training.

"After we beat Bayern I told them if you play like you did against the Germans you have a good chance of winning the trophy."

Zenit will be without Russia striker Pavel Pogrebnyak, the competition's joint top-scorer with 10 goals, who is suspended but welcome back influential playmaker Andrei Arshavin who missed the second leg of the semi-final.