Plzen take on the visitors Servette in the first leg of UEFA Champions League Qualification round of quarterfinals. The match will be played on Tuesday, July 22nd at Doosan Arena (Plzen).
Viktoria Plzeň will aim to keep climbing back to the topю The club, affectionately known as "Viktorka," has been around for over a century, but only started achieving major results closer to its 100th anniversary. After lifting the Czech Cup, they went on to win the league six times between 2011 and 2022. However, in recent seasons, they’ve been pushed aside by Prague giants Sparta and Slavia, often having to settle for third place. Last spring, they finished 16 points behind Slavia, but took advantage of Sparta's slump — which saw the defending champions drop to fourth — to finish as runners-up. That second-place finish gave them a shot in European qualification this summer. Viktoria have started the new domestic season on the right foot as well, beating Pardubice 1–0 in their opening league match, showing defensive stability and sharpness in attack.
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Servette club won their first Swiss league title back in 1907 and added another 16 top-flight trophies by the end of the 20th century. But the last couple of decades brought a string of off-pitch problems, especially financial ones, which saw them drop down the divisions. Their resurgence began in the 2020s, with a second-place finish, a Swiss Cup win last year, and another runner-up league finish this past spring. Coach Thomas Häberli — formerly head of the Estonian national team — has kept his job thanks to that consistency. Ahead of this Champions League qualifier, Servette strengthened the squad mainly by signing free agents, prioritizing experience and versatility. In their recent friendly matches, they showed promise but also signs that their new-look attack still needs time to gel.
These sides met in the UEFA Conference League playoffs in March last year. Both matches ended 0–0, but Viktoria won the penalty shootout at home to progress. Home wins are crucial in this stage of the competition — and the Czech side know it. Back Viktoria to take the upper hand in the first leg.
Prediction for the match: Plzen to win.
