Slavia Prague won a tough match in Pardubice, while Sparta Prague comfortably defeated Slovacko at home. Both teams are in great form and dominant in the league, and now they are preparing for the famous derby match between them. The derby never has a clear favorite, especially this week when both teams are also playing in the Europa League and anything can happen. However, in my opinion, Sparta is currently in a better position.
The match will be played at Eden Stadium, where both teams are unbeaten at home. Most of the fans, including the sold-out Sparta fan section, will be supporting Slavia. However, this might not be a problem for the away team. If they want to defend their title, they need to win away matches like this one, which are crucial. I just hope that the focus will be on football and not on delays and time-wasting, as we have seen in some previous matches.
Sparta has been in excellent form lately, with Veljko Birmančević and Lukáš Haraslín leading the team’s offense. The Serbian midfielder has been a key player for Sparta and has increased their offensive strength. On the other hand, Slovacko might struggle due to the absence of three experienced players – Milan Petržela, Stanislav Hofmann, and Marek Havlík, who have played over a thousand league matches combined.
Slavia, on the other hand, has the strongest defense in the league, having conceded only four goals so far. They also kept a clean sheet in their recent match against Pardubice. Goalkeeper Aleš Mandous made a great save at the end of the game, preventing the opponents from equalizing. However, anything can happen in football, and even the best defenses can make mistakes.
The coach of Hradec Kralove, Jožka Weber, is under pressure, and the club’s management is considering his dismissal. I know him well, as I have played against him before, and I understand that following in the footsteps of Miroslav Koubek, who left a significant mark on Hradec Kralove, is not easy. I am not a fan of frequent changes, but sometimes a new coach can bring new motivation to the team. (The club indeed dismissed coach Weber on Monday afternoon, and Václav Kotal has become his successor – editor’s note.)
It is said that if a change is to be made in the coaching position, it should be done before the international break, so the new coach has more time to get to know the team. It is not just about a few training sessions but also about the overall atmosphere. However, football is unpredictable and beautiful precisely because it breaks these rules. I just want to remind everyone that Vasil Kušej’s goal for Mladá Boleslav was magnificent. He bounced back from not moving to Utrecht or Slavia and this goal is a testament to his talent.
The home defeat of Zlín against Plzeň is harsh. Of course, the fact that Zlín played most of the match with ten men had an impact, but we also have to acknowledge the immense quality of Plzeň’s players. Their form is growing, and Viktoria can be very interesting in the title race.
Karviná failed to win an important home match against Teplice, which is a big problem for them. They have already lost to Sparta and Slavia away, which was expected, but they should have at least drawn against Teplice at home. There are also rumors of a possible coaching change here, but I don’t know the circumstances well. I just want to reiterate that I am not a fan of frequent changes.
