LIVE FOOTBALL: Slavia Concedes in Champions League as Arsenal Strikes with Penalty
In a recent UEFA Champions League match, Slavia Prague faced off against Arsenal, where they struggled to secure points once again. The match took place amidst crucial changes in both teams’ lineups due to various injuries.
Slavia’s Lineup Changes
Head coach Jindřich Trpišovský made two alterations to the starting lineup compared to their previous league game against Baník Ostrava. Greek midfielder Christos Zafeiris replaced Oscar Dorley, and defender Youssoupha Mbodji took the place of forward Mojmír Chytil. The selected players included:
- Goalkeeper: Jakub Markovič
- Defenders: Moses, Chaloupek, Zima, Vlček, Mbodji
- Midfielders: Zafeiris, M. Sadílek, Sanyang, Provod
- Forward: Chorý
Champions League Performance
Slavia has played three matches in the Champions League, earning only two points. They achieved draws against Bodo/Glimt and Atalanta Bergamo but suffered a significant defeat against Inter Milan, finishing that game 0-3. Despite their struggles, there is optimism as they prepare to face top-tier competition.
Facing Arsenal’s Formidable Squad
Trpišovský acknowledged the challenge of playing against Arsenal, a team currently in excellent form. Arsenal leads the Premier League by six points over Manchester City and has won all their Champions League matches so far, accumulating nine points. They most recently dominated Atlético Madrid with a 4-0 victory. Arsenal has not conceded a goal in their last seven competitive matches.
Injury Challenges
Both teams are grappling with injuries. Slavia is missing key players such as Igoh Ogbu, Tomáš Holeš, and Jan Bořil. However, wingback David Douděra is returning, and goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk is available, though Markovič is expected to retain his starting spot.
On the other side, Arsenal is without star forward Viktor Gyökeres due to health issues, and midfielder Martin Zubimendi is suspended. Additionally, injured players include Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Gabriel Jesus. Despite these setbacks, Trpišovský highlighted Arsenal’s depth, praising their ability to maintain quality even with player absences.
Match Highlights and Outcome
The match ended with Arsenal winning 2-0, with goals scored by Bukayo Saka through a penalty in the 32nd minute and Mikel Merino shortly after halftime.
| Team | Goals |
|---|---|
| Slavia Prague | 0 |
| Arsenal | 2 |
The match was officiated by Azerbaijani referee Aliyar Aghajev. Fans viewed the live broadcast on Nova Sport 3.
As the competition intensifies, Slavia Prague’s dream for their first Champions League victory continues while facing tough adversaries like Arsenal.
