So not knowing the full story, I assumed that Slovan would likely be playing FCSB (aka Steaua Bucherest) next round, but it turns out the Romanian side had a large Covid outbreak. They had to send a largely B team to play against a Serbian team I've never heard of. The Serbs are up 2-0 early, so Liberec may be getting a weaker opponent next round than originally expected.
I nice offensive sequence results in Jablonec taking the lead in Slovakia. Still a half-hour to go. If Jablonec hold on they face Austrian side LASK in what would be another fairly even and local match-up. Edit:2-2 as the Slovaks equalize still a lot of time for either team. Wouldn't be surprised if Czech teams became interested in the young striker duo on this Slovak side, their midfield isn't great but if they get the ball in attacking position they look solid. Edit2: Jablonec back ahead with a penalty.
Dunajska Streda equalizes in the 85th minute and are trying to carry that momentum over. Jablonec's keeper is not having a day to remember. It goes to extra time, which at the end of regulation it was Jablonec that definitely wanted a break. Edit: Jablonec are now behind, and I don't really see them fighting back as they don't appear to have much energy left.
Simply put, Jablonec aren't that good and I'm sort of ready for them to be replaced as the club that rounds out the top 5 in our league. They made one good signing off-season in Schranz but otherwise failed to replace most of their production last season, which came from Slavia players on loan. They blew-it on a fairly manageable qualification path this year. Off-topic, but the match to decide who Liberec plays next round is wild, 5-5 at the halfway point of extratime. One team missing half their first team, the other down to players due to red cards.
I don't want to comment on other teams after last weekend, but Jablonec have embarrassed themselves in Europe the 3 seasons I've known Czech football.
Yes, actually many Czech media and fans are bashing Jablonec on twitter right now for their European ineptitude. To be honest, even if they advance I think LASK would have beat them next week. Liberec will travel to Romania to play FCSB, which if they are still missing players should be an easy advance, if not its a competitive match. Plzen will be the first Czech team to host a European match against Danish side Sonderjyske. Really, Plzen should win this easy at home, but hard to know which team to expect.
So the path forward in European qualification is clear now. Europa League: Slovan Liberec - > FCSB -> APOEL/Mostar This is causing debate among Czech twitter with some saying they are doomed and others saying they have a good chance. I fall into the latter camp, I believe that Liberec are capable but inconsistent, and FCSB has major difficulties stemming from Covid-19. Viktoria Plzen - > Sonderyske - > Motherwell/Hapoel Be'er Sheva Everyone seems to think Plzen should make it through this, but to me it really depends on how well they finish chances. I think they are too inconsistent to say for sure, but they will be favored. Sparta Prague are already qualified to groups and will be in either Pot 1 or (more likely 2). I also suspect they will advance this season, it sort of pains me to say it but they are really really good this year. Champions League Slavia Prague - > Midtjylland Slavia should advance, but the Pardubice match was a red flag. They are guaranteed at least Europa League (where they would be Pot 1 most likely), and in that competition they should advance. Champions League depending on the group they may manage something, but if they wind up with a group like last year it would be a repeat.
Up 4-0 at just over 50 minutes and toying with Teplice. Let this be a lesson to the rest of the league, don't make us angry. More seriously, it looks like Olayinka is shaking off the rust from his injury and we finally played highly rated youngster Musa over club footed weak-link Tecl.
Well, Teplice did have their best defender sent off on a really poor officiating decision in the 20th minute... but then again Slavia were already up 2 at that point so your point stands. I definitely agree about Musa.
I actually missed the red card, but it does look like people are saying it was harsh. Just glad to see us bounce back ahead of the Champions League playoff.
⚠ Po pravidelném testování na přítomnost nemoci COVID-19 je ve Zbrojovce aktuálně pět osob s pozitivním výsledkem.Tým tak okamžitě přerušil přípravu na utkání s Olomoucí. Členové realizačního týmu a zbylí hráči, doplnění o hráče rezervy, absolvují v sobotu kontrolní testy. pic.twitter.com/MawpiUNFhW— FC Zbrojovka Brno (@FCZbrojovkaBrno) September 18, 2020 For us, probably just means we'll lose by 4 goals instead of 2 (depending on who tested positive). I suspect this will happen to multiple teams in coming weeks. The spread of Covid-19 in Central Europe has quickly accelerated after a comparatively quiet Spring/Summer.
Will be able to watch about the first 30 minutes of Bohemians - Plzen, not sure greater looking stadium in the country on TV than the Dolicek at evening with sun reflecting off the buildings. Brabec is given a start after missing out last match due to poor form, but the story for Plzen is Ondrasek's debut.
Ondrasek scores on his debut, really class header with momentum going away from goal too. I think the assessment that he will spend most of match being more or less invisible then pop up randomly to score goals seems accurate. Now its 2-0, beautiful break from the wingers Kopic and Ba Loua. Plzen pass so well, but defend so bad. Really hope they can fix those issues and have a good Europa run.
Brno is missing a lot of players, but their mostly from our inept defense. So far this performance has been addition by subtraction. Hope we can get the 3 points. Edit: starting to fall apart, at this point hoping to take a point.
The first really controversial match of the season was Sparta - Zlin, and not without region. Zlin came out and played well but had a few calls go against them as the match went on. Jablonec followed up their exhausted exit from Europa League by losing to the famously out of form Mlada Boleslav side using an experimental lineup. Moving back to a Europe focus this week. Slavia has the first leg of Champions League at home tomorrow.
Slovan Liberec's Europa League opponent FCSB now has 14 players diagnosed with Covid-19 and aren't sure they will be able to field the required squad for the match this week.
Dreadful first half offensively, Stanciu needs to be better with what we pay him. The other team is playing hard but don't look very good.
I'm not one to question Trpisovsky's decisions, but Holes and Tecl over Traore and Musa seems stupid for a home match. Can't watch, but a lot of previews said this would be like Slavia playing a mirror image of themselves in style of play.
Kolar saved our ass on that set piece, their first attempt. We really don't look very good at all today, but neither do they.
Sounds like the same problems Slavia had last spring, never suitably replaced Soucek (admittedly tough in Czech league) and never found a striker that offers much in build-up.
Kolar bails us out again and his body language says it all, we've shown no initiative this 2nd half. One goal by either team will probably be enough to decide who advances.
Ends goal less, best chance was the broken keyboard teams, but we had more of the ball and more total chances. We played awful end half. We can win, hopefully they play more open in Denmark because we can't breakdown a cautious defense.
Liberec are in Romania, but their opponent only has 9 field players registered with UEFA (that haven't tested positive for COVID-19) and are scrambling to sign 2 temporary players. No idea if this match will happen, I know if not they advance, but not sure what the forfeit would count as for coefficient.
That was honestly probably one of the more disappointing performances from Slavia in recent years when considering the standard they've shown to be capable of that is expected to be displayed against opposition of this caliber. That was not the confident, bold, and risk-taking Slavia that overran opponents in Europa League, and outplayed European giants in the Champions League last year. I thought Slavia looked very timid and ultimately uncertain. It seemed they modified their tactical approach to account for Midtjylland's strengths which is perfectly fine, but it came at the expense of playing their own tried-and-tested style. With that said, by no means is this a bad result that can't be thrown aside next week. I'd expect a few lineup/tactical changes from Trpisovsky for the second leg, and a much better perfomance that should result in victory.
Liberec - FCSB is turning into another UEFA farce, its match day and FCSB is still scrambling to sign temporary players to register and UEFA is allowing it! This is a club that has seen almost its entire regular roster test positive for Covid-19 in the last 2 weeks, and clearly isn't doing enough to protect its players and staff. The Liberec twitter just said that FCSB has registered 15 players (enough to play) so it looks like match is on (they even say not sure this is good or bad news). I realize Liberec couldn't pull out without it being a forfeit, but they are being put into a very risky position having to play against a team that has an un-contained outbreak.