Both situated just inside the Europa League playoff places midway through the league phase, Slavia Prague and Fenerbahce will lock horns on Thursday.
Fener lead their Czech counterparts by one point in the standings, but neither can afford many more slip-ups following defeats last time out.
Match preview
© Imago
After falling at the final hurdle of Champions League qualifying, Slavia Prague kicked off this season's Europa League campaign with a 2-0 win over Ludogorets in Razgrad; however, they have picked up just one further point since then.
The Cervenobili drew at home against Ajax before suffering successive losses on the road - first to Athletic Bilbao, then Eintracht Frankfurt.
On both occasions, Slavia had more of the ball and more goal attempts than their hosts, but Jindrich Trpisovsky's side ultimately failed to find the net, leaving them in some danger of being eliminated by missing out on the Europa League's top 24.
Having last lost three straight European games during the same season back in 1996, when Europe's second-tier competition was the now-defunct UEFA Cup, they will be doubly keen to at least avoid defeat on Thursday evening.
Two four-goal wins since losing in Germany have kept Slavia at the summit of the Czech top flight, with just four points dropped all season: eight clear of second-placed Viktoria Plzen, they are well-placed to regain the title from city rivals Sparta Prague.
© Imago
While Fenerbahce have been beaten just twice in their last eight meetings with Czech opponents, those defeats came against Slavia Prague in February 2022, when the Turkish giants lost 3-2 in both legs of the Conference League playoffs.
Given their precarious position in the table, where they occupy one of the last playoff places as things stand, Fener cannot afford a repeat result this week.
After picking up five points from their opening three fixtures, by beating Union SG and posting back-to-back 1-1 draws with FC Twente and Manchester United, Jose Mourinho's men suffered a chastening setback last time out.
Defeat to AZ Alkmaar ended the Istanbul club's 10-game unbeaten streak in the Europa League group stage and league phase, as they let a point slip away by conceding twice after Youssef En-Nesyri's second-half strike had pulled them level.
Nonetheless, with four matches remaining, Fener are still only four points behind the top eight, who will automatically progress to the last 16; while scoring 10 goals in two games has recently taken them second in the Turkish Super Lig standings.
- W
- W
- D
- L
- W
- W
Team News
© Imago
Slavia Prague will be without Lukas Vorlicky (muscular), Tomas Vlcek (knee) and goalkeeper Jindrich Stanek (shoulder) on Thursday, but they can name a settled side, most likely set up in Jindrich Trpisovsky's favoured 3-4-3 formation.
Czech international trio Lukas Provod, Tomas Chory and Mojmir Chytil are set to start up front, with the latter having scored four goals in two Czech First League games either side of the international break.
Slovakia's Euro 2024 star Ivan Schranz is another attacking option, while influential playmaker Christos Zafeiris should feature in the hosts' engine room.
Meanwhile, Jose Mourinho must do without Brazilian centre-back Rodrigo Becao due to suspension, and Caglar Soyuncu recently suffered a muscular injury, so Samet Akaydin could partner Alexander Djiku at the heart of Fenerbahce's back four.
Ex-Manchester United pair Fred and Sofyan Amrabat are favourites to feature in midfield, while either veteran striker Edin Dzeko or Youssef En-Nesyri - who has scored in both of his last two Europa League appearances and was on target again at the weekend - will spearhead the visitors' attack.
Slavia Prague possible starting lineup:
Kinsky; Holes, Ogbu, Zima; Doudera, Zafeiris, Dorley, Diouf; Provod, Chory, Chytil
Fenerbahce possible starting lineup:
Livakovic; Osayi, Akaydin, Djiku, Muldur; Fred, Amrabat; Tadic, Szymanski, Saint-Maximin; Dzeko
We say: Slavia Prague 3-2 Fenerbahce
Slavia should have accrued more points given their performances thus far, and they can now punish a makeshift Fenerbahce defence on home soil.
Both sides have been clinical over the past few weeks, scoring 19 goals in four league games between them, so it could be an entertaining contest in the Czech capital.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Jonathan O'Shea
