Preview.
Europa League (EL) surprise package Slavia Prague knocked five-time winners Sevilla out in the previous round (6-5 on aggregate), and now face 2012/13 champions Chelsea, a side undefeated this EL campaign (W9, D1).
Unbeaten in five EL home matches this term (W3, D2), whilst keeping a clean sheet in four, Slavia can also boast superb domestic home league form this season (W11, D1, L1).
In fine goalscoring shape, the Czech league leaders have now netted four or more goals in three of their last four domestic (league/cup) home matches.
With both teams scoring during the first half in Slavia’s last three European games, it seems likely the Prague outfit will concede against Chelsea here, a team that’s won their last three EL games ‘to nil’, and has now netted in eight consecutive EL away fixtures (W6, D1, L1).
Based on Chelsea’s recent away form, this game is likely to have a winner. The ‘Blues’ haven’t drawn a competitive road trip this calendar year (W4, L5), with the majority of those games (six) seeing just one side score.
If they do win, it could come via a 2-1 scoreline – five of Chelsea’s last seven away victories (in all competitions) finished 2-1.
Players to watch:
Miroslav Stoch appeared five times for Chelsea as a teenager, and now faces his former club as Slavia’s top league scorer this season (12 goals, ten assists).
Joint-EL top scorer, Olivier Giroud (nine goals), netted a hat-trick at Dynamo Kiev in the previous round.
He’s now scored in Chelsea’s last four EL away matches.
Stat attack:
Slavia have been shown one or no yellow card in each of their last four games.
Both teams have scored in the second half in three of Slavia’s last five fixtures.
There’s been a goal scored after the 75th minute in Chelsea’s last four EL matches.
All the best!
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