The first European match of knock outs was yesterday, I still need to watch the highlights at some point but it finished Galatasaray 3 - 2 Sparta in Istanbul. On paper that's not a terrible result with a return match in Prague, but from fan reactions and some basic stats that I've seen it seems like Sparta really blew it with poor goalkeeping and a few crucial mistakes. Still a 1 goal deficit is very easy to reverse in Prague.
Sparta 4 - 1 Galatasaray (6-4 agg) After a tense and even first half the home team took the initiative after halftime. They didn't get there breakthrough until a reckless red card gave them a man advantage, then 3 goals in the last 20 minutes made it look more comfortable than it was. Sparta join Slavia in the round of 16.
Round of 16 Draws Europa League: Slavia - Milan Sparta - Liverpool Europa Conference League: Plzen - Servette Really attractive opponents for the Prague teams, as they more or less play the best teams remaining in the tournament. They will be underdogs, but if you are going to get past the Round of 16 in this competition you have to beat big opponents. For Plzen a more workable opponent, but not a particularly interesting one. We currently have 12.75 coefficient points this season (we generally average in the 5 or 6 point range) which means we are the 6th highest point league so far this season, narrowly behind Spain, so all 3 clubs can take a bow regardless of what happens. Plzen is our best chance to get into the top 10 during this season, but we will start the next season in the top 10 since we lose the awful 2019/20 season from our 5 year total.
So we’re already guaranteed to be top 10 next season and have a Champions League spot secured for the league winner? I’m not as familiar with the coefficient system. Otherwise, a tough but very appealing draw for the Prague teams who also happen to play each other twice this week. I’m still sticking with Sparta to win the league again, unless they shock Liverpool and make a deep Europa League run that distracts their title pursuit.
Safe to say it won't be Sparta, very harsh scoreline relative to the match as a whole, but they were still always a distant 2nd. Slavia looking much more up to it, but still early.
Well that was stupid. Straight red for Diouf likely to kill Slavia's match plan. They were the better side when it was 11-v-11 but now they have to hold on for 60 minutes
I felt going in that Slavia were more likely to advance, but didn’t want to completely rule out Sparta.. however they’re obviously out now. I agree that Slavia looked up to it until that red card. Such a shame. I guess with how well the group stages went, we were due for that one disastrous match day all around. It was inevitable.
Slavia pulled one back, if they can limit the final deficit to 1 or even better draw it they still have a shot in the return leg.
Cruel results yesterday, but a reminder that there are levels to this, no matter how much Czech clubs have improved recently (more so Sparta than anyone). Slavia deserves credit too and if not for that red card, a possibly different outcome. Had they not conceded that late fourth goal, I’d of given them a fair shot at still advancing, but erasing a two-goal deficit seems very unlikely. Plzen remarkably have conceded just one goal in seven Conference League matches now.
Plzen are the last team standing in Europe, they would need 1 draw in the next round for us to enter the top 10, but I think even the relatively easier draws are beyond plzen
So basically a repeat of last week then. Sparta destroyed on the scoreline again, but this time genuinely humiliated themselves. Priske deserves blame for not approaching this game with more caution and still recklessly playing out from the back. On that note, Vindahl and the entire defence (minus Preciado) have all been shockingly bad at points throughout this new year and become so error prone suddenly. Slavia were again dismantled by an early red card, but this one was a terrible call (AC Milan players / staff even admitted so). I truly believe they’d of advanced if not for those two red cards. Plzen with another stale 0-0, but for 120+ minutes instead. The clear MOTM was Jedlicka who came up with clutch saves and then stopped two penalties. They’ve been in the best form of all three teams lately. Also special shoutout to Schick for his late game heroics in Leverkusen’s comeback win to remain unbeaten on the season.
Plzen will play Fiorentina, not quite the worst draw, but still very heavy underdogs. Fiorentina did struggle with Maccabi Haifa, who really aren't much different than Plzen in terms of budget & roster.
HT Plzen 0 - Fiorentina 0 It's basically what you'd expect, although Plzen probably had the best chance of the half with Vydra putting one narrowly wide.
FT Plzen 0 - 0 Fiorentina That was... something. It's basically how people that hate this sport usually describe it, but I think the combined xG for both teams was less than 0.5 It was, however an extremely significant result as Plzen gave us just enough points to overtake Scotland on the current coefficient meaning that in the 25/26 season our champion will go straight into Champions League group stages. We also are in a strong position to keep a top 10 spot for an extra season or two with this season compared to what's about to go out of our coefficient score. Also, Plzen haven't conceded a goal in Europe since the first match of the group stages.
Plzen’s luck has runout and they were eliminated in extra time by Fiorentina. An incredible European run that deserves praise and as mentioned above, the ultimate coefficient goal was fulfilled. In the domestic competition, Slavia are at risk of a third consecutive season without a title after a disastrous last two rounds that saw their one point lead over Sparta fall to a four point deficit. Both teams are actually ahead of their point pace from last season, but the competition has increased again this year with almost no margin for error.
They took Fiorentina to extra time despite being a man down for much of the match. I wouldn't be surprised if conference league put Hranac and Jedlicka on a few scout lists abroad. Next year it will be interesting to see how much Sparta or Slavia care to compete in Europa or ECL if they know winning will put them in Champions League with the big payout.