Slavia Prague vs. Balkani: Preview and betting tips
Slovácko will face Kolín nad Rýnem in the second match of the group stage of the European Conference League. In the opening match against Partizan Belgrade, Martin Svědík’s men even led, but in the end they only drew with the Serbian team. Will Slovácko be able to register the first three points in the group table in the match against the German opponent?
The team from Uherské Hradiště has so far played five matches in European cups in the current year. Two in the preliminary round of the Europa League against Fenerbahce (0:3, 1:1), another two in the preliminary round of the Conference League against AIK Stockholm (3:0, 1:0) and the last one was scored by Slovácko against Partizan Belgrade (3:3).
It can therefore be said that the opening match of the basic group of the Slovak Conference League did not go as expected. Coach Svědík’s men led 2:0 after 19 minutes, when Jan Kalabiška scored in both cases.
In the 22nd minute, visiting midfielder Kristijan Belič even received a red card. However, Slovácko did not have numerical advantages, as Partizan won the match 3:2, then Libor Kozák equalized at 3:3 in the 83rd minute.
Kozák et al. so not only did they not keep the lead, but they even had to make up for a one-goal deficit at the end of the match. They didn’t improve their mood even in the league when they drew 1:1 at Mladá Boleslav on Sunday, September 11.
Slovácko has not won even once in the last 5 matches, while the last time they could celebrate a win was on August 25, when they beat AIK 1:0 in Stockholm. This duel was followed by losses with Liberec and Pilsen, plus draws with Slavia, Partizan and Mlada Boleslav.
Cologne, on the other hand, has enjoyed victory twice in the last five games. The German rival Slovácko first won the match at Fehérvár (3:0), then shared the points with Stuttgart, then defeated Wolfsburg (4:2) on their territory.
However, Cologne did not manage to win the first group match either, as it drew (1:1) against Nice. Well, most recently, Steffen Baumgart’s men lost to Union Berlin (0:1), on their home turf.
It should be noted that in this case it was a battle between two undefeated Bundesliga teams. As a result of this loss, the home team fell to the seventh place in the table, Union rose to the top of the competition.
Cologne also has very uneven performances, while it does not have much experience with clubs from our top league. The only double match with the Czech club was played by the Kolín footballers in 1985/86, when they beat Bohemians 8:2 on aggregate and subsequently reached the final of the UEFA Cup.
According to all available information and the current form of both teams, it seems that a draw is again a very likely alternative for how the upcoming duel could end. Although according to betting office Tipsport, the German team is the clear favorite.
Resources: 1. FC Slovácko, UEFA