Czech league round 10: Plzeň and Baník seek a win to end their slump

In round 10 of the Czech football league, Plzeň and Baník Ostrava are looking to end their poor runs. Plzeň have gone three league games without a win, while Baník have gone four matches without victory. Friday’s game has already been played: Zlín lost to Slavia 0:1.

Plzeň: they need to find form

Tenth-placed Viktoria Plzeň are playing well below their potential. Before the international break they lost 1:2 to Slavia, although they may have played their best league match under coach Radoslav Kováč. Now third-placed Mladá Boleslav, who have played one game fewer than most opponents and are still in the top places, are visiting. Plzeň need a win to close the gap on the leaders and prepare for Thursday’s Europa League match away at Ferencváros.

Baník and Bohemians: neighbours in the table meet

Twelfth-placed Bohemians have a postponed match with Mladá Boleslav on Wednesday, but before that they host eleventh-placed Baník at Dolíček. With a game in hand, a win would lift the “green-and-whites” into mid-table. Ostrava had plenty to work on during the international break: the team has gone four league games without a win, and in the cup it beat second-division Kladno only in extra time. Bohemians, by contrast, beat third-division Vsetín 5:0 in the cup.

The rest of the round

Ninth-placed Hradec Králové are formally in the bottom half of the table, but only two points behind fourth-placed Sigma Olomouc. Before the break the club lost 0:2 to Teplice and will try to make amends against fourteenth-placed Artis. The league newcomers are by no means pushovers, even though they have won only one match so far.

Sixth-placed Zbrojovka began the season like a well-oiled machine and, after a third of the regular season, are in the top six. Luboš Kozel’s side host Jablonec and on Thursday play in Freiburg in European competition. During the break the Brno team beat Dukla 1:0 in the third round of the MOL Cup and reached the last 16.

Saturday’s schedule: 15:00 Plzeň — Mladá Boleslav, Zbrojovka — Jablonec, Hradec Králové — Artis; 18:00 Bohemians — Baník. On Sunday: 13:00 Liberec — Slovácko, 15:00 Teplice — Olomouc.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz