In the final play-off, Slavia is aiming for a third promotion to the main stage of the Champions League, which they have played so far in 2007 and 2019. If they could reverse the double match with Lille, they would receive a bonus of 18.62 million euros (470 million crowns). In case of failure, it would move to the main stage of the Europa League, which is associated with a bonus of 4.14 million euros (104 million crowns).
Coach Slavie Trpišovský deployed the expected starting line-up, with Chorý jumping in at the tip of the attack, who helped with two goals in the previous preliminary round to a 3:1 home victory over Saint-Gilloise. Holeš, one of the Prague captains, started the 50th game in the cups, Masopust scored his 200th competitive game for the red and white. The opponent was missing midfielder Gomes, one of the props could not recover from a head injury from the weekend’s opening round of the domestic competition.
The favorite, just like in the 3rd preliminary round against Fenerbahce Istanbul, found a home asylum in Valenciennes, the stadium in Lille has not yet had time to prepare after the recent Olympic Games. The twenty-five thousand capacity was nowhere near filled.
“We expected it to be a very difficult match against a great opponent. We are sorry that it turned out like this. We certainly wanted a little better result in the second leg. But it is two goals and nothing is still lost. We know that at home we have our strength, our fans, so we will try to progress,” assessed striker Ivan Schranz.
The fourth team of last season’s French league dictated the pace in the first half, and Slavia was held up by Kinský several times. The Prague goalkeeper had to intervene for the first time in the eighth minute, when Gudmundsson did not burn him from an angle after a penetration on the left side.
After less than half an hour, striker David missed with a technical attempt. The Canadian representative also shot over a moment later, after Kinský had previously blocked Zhegrava’s unsuccessful attempt after his penetration into the goal. The reigning Czech vice-champion first made a significant threat in the opening act, when he sent a deflected ball into the goal from the center in a promising position a little bit next to Chorý.
“In the first half we were under a lot of pressure, Tonda (Kinský) saved us, we survived something. In the second half we had more chances, paradoxically in our better half we lost 0:2. The biggest difference was in the speed of the opponent’s combination, in mobility players, it was difficult to capture,” said Trpišovský.
Seven minutes after the break, the home team turned their lasting advantage into a lead. Haraldsson pushed out David, the Canadian representative pushed himself in front of Holeš and opened the scoring. At that moment, the guests were playing at ten without Masopust, who was being treated and had to substitute.
In the 64th minute, he pushed the ball past the goalkeeper Ogba from close range, but Prague could not be happy about the equalizer, as Diouf had previously played with his hand. 13 minutes later, the French champion from 2021 increased. The agile Zhegrova stretched into the box and beat Kinski with an attempt at the back post. Slavia conceded twice in one competitive match for the first time since April.
In the 80th minute, substitute Chytil got the ball into the net, but Prague could not celebrate again, this time due to offside. The visitors were unable to reduce the score and in the sum total of the summer training they lost for the first time since April after 19 matches. Slavists also suffered a defeat in the third cup match against Lille, on the other hand, the French team also won in the fifth match against the Czech team in UEFA competitions.
“Unfortunately, we got the first goal when we were ten. The second goal we conceded after a great individual action. We scored two goals that were not recognized. In the first half Choras (Chorý) had a nice shot, at the end we didn’t solve the two-on-one situation . We matched them in terms of danger in terms of fitness. But we have to put even more pressure on them in return to make it impossible for them to combine,” added Trpišovský.
“We are satisfied with the result and the performance. Of course, we would have liked to have created an even bigger lead before the second leg. We wanted to have a little more creativity and movement in the midfield next to André. It is great that we managed to secure a two-goal lead, but we have to stay alert. We have a tough battle ahead of us, especially if we play away. But first we have to focus on the weekend league game, then it’s Prague’s turn,” said Lille coach Bruno Génésio.
