By Lev
September 13 2006

Slavia Prague and Tottenham Hotspur both go into this game on the back of disappointing starts to the season. Slavia have only achieved 9 points in their first six league games, losing three of these, and have already crashed out of the Czech Cup, losing to Second Division side Caslav 4-3. Slavia Prague and Tottenham Hotspur both go into this game on the back of disappointing starts to the season. Slavia have only achieved 9 points in their first six league games, losing three of these, and have already crashed out of the Czech Cup, losing to Second Division side Caslav 4-3.

However, Spurs must not underestimate a team which has participated in the UEFA Cup for the last thirteen years running, and must remember that in the past, it has taken sides such as Leeds, Kaiserslautern and Besiktas, to knock them out. For Slavia, this first game of the two-legged tie will give them an opportunity to give their season a kick-start and set them on their way to causing an upset against a team described as the ‘strongest opponents… we could have been drawn against,’ by Slavia coach, Karel Jarolim, after the draw.

Unlike the recent cup game two matches ago, Jarolim will be able to call upon midfielders Dusan Svento and Matej Krajcik, who played for Slovakia in their European Championship qualifiers against Cyprus and the Czech Republic, while the ex-Birmingham defender and captain of the Czech under-21 side, Martin Latka, is also a likely starter. Svento is only 21 and has broken into his National side’s first team, impressing in their 6-1 thrashing of Cyprus. After being voted the League’s best foreigner, Slavia have high hopes for the Slovak.

Slavia’s squad also includes defender Marek Suchy, who had a trial with their English opponents last season and Brazilian striker Gaucho. The quality of players on their books now and in the past is also proven by the fact Tottenham have signed goalkeeper Radek Cerny and young striker Tomas Pekhart from the club.

The evident first-class relations forged between the two clubs, from these transfer dealings and also their business ties through company ENIC, will hopefully result in Tottenham’s management knowing both the strengths and weaknesses of the Czech outfit.

Tottenham’s fans will accept nothing less than a win over the two legs and because of this, will want to see their side come away from Prague undefeated. Martin Jol’s team certainly have the personnel to achieve this goal and failure to beat Slavia would be a massive dent in Spurs’ season. After narrowly missing out on a Champions’ League spot, they must, at the very least, make their way into the group stages of the UEFA Cup.

After narrowly losing to an in-form Manchester United at Old Trafford on Saturday, Jol will be keen for his strikers to start taking their opportunities in front of goal. Hossam Ahmed Mido and Jermain Defoe were guilty of wasting good chances, although it may be Tottenham’s other two strikers who start, this heavily depending on Dimitar Berbatov’s fitness. Spurs will definitely welcome back their talented midfielder Teemu Tainio into the squad, while Aaron Lennon may hand them a boost and also return. Spurs have several midfield options, even without the addition of a left winger in the summer transfer window.

Tottenham’s back four was most definitely the subject of improvement over the summer, with new signings Pascal Chimbonda and Benoit Assou-Ekotto performing impressively against United on the weekend, at right and left back, respectively. With Michael Dawson and club captain Ledley King at the heart of the defence, Spurs will be hoping to keep a clean sheet away from home.

This and an away goal would be fantastic for Tottenham, and it is this result I forecast; 1-0 to Tottenham, with Robbie Keane opening his account for the season.

COYS