Some significant matches for the relegation battle. I think at this point it's safe to predict that Opava and Pribram are going down, the 3rd team will most likely be either Brno or Mlada Boleslav. Both teams also have potential to be much better than they are currently, so Karvina & Teplice aren't completely safe yet either. If Brno does drop, the 2nd largest city may still have a team in the first division as SK Lisen currently lead the FNL table.
Slavia getting an easy prep match vs Ostrava so far ahead of Rangers, made easier by a Banik player throwing a needless elbow less than 3 minutes into the match to get ejected.
It was easy, but we are sleepwalking this half and now we are getting everything that we don't want. Masopust was having a great match, then got injured forcing us to put Sima on against these ankle hackers.
Hlozek returned and played well considering how long he's been gone, but it was Karabec that really stole the show in Sparta's 4-0 win. The 2003 generation is starting to look very strong this season... and now I feel old. Vrba has Sparta winning matches they should, which is already a step in the right direction from predecessors, but his former squad Plzen will be the first big test this weekend.
Actually, Plzen is going into quarantine, so Vrba's Sparta won't face a big test just yet. Also, a big reprieve for them as Krejci the younger and Vitik are both facing a yellow card suspension next match. The younger Krejci continues to look like fool's gold to me, his talent is over shadowed by recklessness that would see him lose favor at a higher level fast. Vitik is part of the promising 2003 group that I mention last post (with Karabec, and Visisnsky [Slavia]), very raw but holding a spot at his age is impressive even though he too racks up more cards than would make a manager comfortable.
Slavia keeps the usual lineup for Rangers, who are missing their captain and most statistically significant player in Tarvernier I expect Slavia to win today, the margin and preventing an away goal are what's crucial if they want to advance.
Slavia should advance, but I think Rangers could actually be more difficult than Leicester having already secured the Scottish league title. They’ll be motivated to achieve additional success in Europe. I do hope Slavia rinse them though, as my disdain for Scottish football this year hasn’t changed.
Not entirely his fault on the goal, but Kolar really struggles to read set pieces and it’s one of the reasons why I’m somewhat skeptical he’d make it in a top league.
Kolar probably deserves most of the blame on that. Had several chances to increase the league before that, but the final ball is lacking.
Zima picks up a yellow card and is now suspended for the next leg. Good to have a proven international replacement in Deli.
He was MOTM in our national team game against Israel back in October and was showing glimpses of raw potential last year, but it feels like he’s now a significantly better player in just a matter of months. I think he’s very well on track for a move abroad this summer.
Really disappointing result, if not for the dumb mistake we probably run away with the match. I still think we are slight favorites in the return leg.
It looks like they changed formation and may have helped tilt the match too. Considering how poor key players like Olayinka, Kolar and Sima played today, not a terrible result going into the return leg.