As Slavia Prague look to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg of their Champions League playoff, Lille arrive in the Czech capital with a commanding lead and a strong desire to secure their spot in the group stages of Europe’s top club competition.
Match Preview
Slavia Prague
Slavia Prague Recent Form
Slavia Prague’s recent form in all competitions shows mixed results. They started their Champions League qualifiers with a strong performance, defeating Union Saint-Gilloise with a 4-1 aggregate score in the third qualifying round.
However, their campaign took a hit after a 2-0 defeat to Lille in the first leg of this playoff.
In domestic league action, Slavia had won four games and drawn one before their last fixture was postponed to give them a better chance in Europe.
Slavia Prague Injury News
Slavia Prague will likely field a similar lineup to the one that played against Union SG. Captain Tomas Holes is expected to lead the team from a back three, while Tomas Chory, Lukas Provod, and Ivan Schranz are likely to feature up front.
Mojmir Chytil and Vaclav Jurecka could be impactful substitutes. Lukas Masopust, having played his 200th competitive match last time, is set to start on the right flank. There are no new major injury concerns reported.
Lille
Lille Recent Form
Lille enter this match on a positive run, having won their latest Ligue 1 match 2-0 against Angers. This follows a strong start to their season under new coach Bruno Genesio.
In the Champions League qualifiers, they edged past Fenerbahce in a tough third-round tie and then beat Slavia Prague 2-0 in the first leg of the playoffs, maintaining an unbeaten start to their 2024-25 campaign.
Lille Injury News
Lille will be without Aissa Mandi due to suspension, while Angel Gomes and Nabil Bentaleb remain sidelined with injuries.
Brazilian full-back Ismaily is out after undergoing knee surgery. Nevertheless, in-form striker Jonathan David, who has been crucial to their European campaign, is expected to lead the attack again, supported by Remy Cabella and Edon Zhegrova, who returns after a domestic ban.
Players To Watch
Slavia Prague Player To Watch
Tomas Chory will be a key player for Slavia Prague, especially considering their need to score goals to overturn the deficit.
Chory was the closest to scoring in the first leg and his physical presence and aerial ability could be pivotal in breaking down Lille’s defence.
Lille Player To Watch
Jonathan David is the standout player for Lille. Having scored in the first leg and been instrumental throughout their qualifying campaign, David’s pace, movement, and finishing ability make him the main threat to Slavia Prague’s defence.
Prediction
While Slavia Prague may win on the night, overcoming a two-goal deficit against a well-organized Lille side is a daunting task.
Given their form and the lead they bring into this game, Lille are favoured to progress to the group stages. A likely scoreline could be Slavia Prague 2-1 Lille, with Lille advancing on aggregate (3-2).
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