Slavia Prague take on the visitors Milan in the first leg of UEFA Europa League 1/8-finals. First leg result: 2-4. The match will be played on Thursday, February 14th at Fortuna Arena (Prague).
Even though Slavia Prague lost in Milan without much of a chance in terms of opportunities and xG, they once again proved themselves as worthy fighters. Football doesn't tolerate the subjunctive mood, but who knows how the first meeting between the teams would have ended if the Patchwork hadn't been reduced to ten men already in the 26th minute. Up to that point, the score was nil-nil. Afterwards, the Czech side managed to restore balance, then didn't collapse, even scoring a goal at 1-3 and conceding the fourth only in the very end of the match. Yes, orchestrating a mini-miracle and staging a comeback against the Prague side in the second leg will be difficult. But at the very least, they are capable of not losing at home to Milan.
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And what about Milan? The Italians are not to blame for the quick dismissal of the Czechs from the field a week ago. Stefano Pioli's charges did their job, outplaying their opponent in xG with a score of 2.41 against 0.44. And in the end, they won 4-2, already taking a step into the next stage of the playoffs. I think they'll end up there in the end. They just need to maintain their advantage, and playing with the scoreline, including from the very beginning of the match, is something today's Milan knows how to do. It makes no sense for footballers to strain themselves for victory. After all, European competitions are one thing, but in the national championship, the team is fighting Juventus for silver medals. I believe that Milan will switch to an economical mode in the second leg against Slavia, focusing primarily on securing the necessary result until the final whistle.
I don't see the point in Milan's players giving 100% in this match, risking injury in the most important part of the season and expending a lot of energy when it's better to put all of it into the battle for medals in Serie A. A conditional draw, as well as a defeat with a one-goal difference, which I also don't exclude, will not be a catastrophe for the Italians. But for Slavia, not losing is crucial. Firstly, it's a home match, they need to please their fans in a match against a top opponent. Secondly, if they can't advance further in the tournament, they should at least exit with dignity and end their European campaign on a high note. Thirdly, let's not forget about the bonuses, which are much more significant for the Czechs in the Europa League matches than for their opponents. And specifically for the footballers, it's another chance to shine on the international stage in front of potential buyers. And who knows, maybe they can even push the confrontation into extra time? After all, they defeated Roma 2-0 in Prague in the current Europa League campaign. My prediction is 1X.
Prediction for the match: Slavia Prague not to lose (1X).
