Benitez has been impressed with the job done by Zola since taking over at West Ham earlier in the season.
"I think Zola is doing a very good job. They are a team that are playing well and have confidence. It will be a tough game for us," said the boss.
"As a player Zola was fantastic and now, as a manager, he is doing a very good job.
"He is clever and he is doing well because he knows what to do. He knew the Premier League as a player and now he knows it as a manager."