Match Previews
Uefa Cup
Round 1/16 Final (1)
Thu 14 February 2008 20:00
Referee
Claudio Circhetta (SUI)
Weather at KO
Travel Info
Distance
SK Slavia Prague
Last updated: Wed 30 November -0001 00:00 Finished third in the Champions League group ... Blazek (att), Toleski (att) and Kubasek (gk) ineligible but the other new signings could make debuts ... Svento (k)(mid) and Latka (sp)(def) could return from long-term injuries; Belaid (sp)(mid) out for sure ... Slavia Prague entertain Tottenham in a first-leg UEFA Cup clash looking to earn a good result and enhance their chances ahead of the return leg. The team entered the knock-out stage via the Champions League groups where they finished third, ahead of Steaua. Karel Jarolim's men will be keen to make a mark now and will be gunning for a revenge after losing against Tottenham in the same competition last season. The stage was a much earlier one, the qualifying round before the group stage, and then Spurs claimed two 1:0 victories to win 2:0 on aggregate. Now the Czech league leaders are a much more solid unit and will be fancying their chances. They are unbeaten in ten games in the league but their last competitive game ended in a 3:0 hammering at the hands of Sevilla in the last game of the Champions League group campaign. Changes have been aloof in the squad during the winter break as key players Michal Svec and Stanislav Vlcek departed the team. The latter was the team's goalscorer and best player in the first half of the season but will now try his luck with Anderlecht. On the other hand, some quality players from the domestic league were signed to fill the gaps and the expectations are high. Marek Jarolim is a skillful and free-scoring midfielder who will add another dimension in the centre of the pitch while Goce Toleski is a powerful striker who had a prolific first half of the season. He, however, was not registered foe the competition and is ineligible along with Jan Blazek and Josef Kubasek. The three new players who can play are Jarolim, David Strihavka and Jaroslav Cerny. The first two are expected to start as Strihavka can be a threat up front having played at Norwich City in the first half of the season. Tijani Belaid is missing for sure as he missed most of the pre-season after being on trial for the car crash he caused in early January. Meanwhile, Martin Latka and Dusan Svento have been making good steps to recovery lately and could make surprising returns to the squad.
Tottenham Hotspur
Last updated: Wed 30 November -0001 00:00 Solid form of late ... Hutton (r)(def) and Gunter (sp)(def) ineligible while Bale (r)(def) and Assou-Ekotto (sp)(def) are out injured ... Dawson (sp)(def) ruled out while King (k)(def) makes the squad; Zokora (r)(mid) back in the fold but unlikely to start; Boateng (sp)(mid) and Gilberto (def) out injured ... Tottenham start the knock-out stage of the UEFA Cup at Prague where they played last season against the same opposition and will look to do better than reaching the last eight of the competition which was their limit last year. Juande Ramos is on a mission of winning a third UEFA Cup in a row and will be confident of a success against the Czech given Spurs' impressive run of form lately. The played some great football lately and the manager will hope for more of the same in the European stage as a good result is vital in setting in a good prospective ahead of the White Hart Lane clash a week later. Ramos already faced Slavia this season in the Champions League as he was still a manager of Sevilla and enjoyed a 4:2 victory. He will be again without long-term absentees Bennoit Assou-Ekotto and Gareth Bale. They were joined on the sidelines by Michael Dawson who suffered a hamstring problem on Saturday at Derby County and will need three weeks to overcome it. Fellow defender Ledley King is unlikely to be risked as he is still troubled by a knee problem and will be kept for the big game against Chelsea in ten days' time. He actually makes the squad and could be involved. Meanwhile, another two defenders will miss the game as well as Alan Hutton and Chris Gunter are both ineligible after not being registered. Thus, Pascal Chimbonda will be restored on his usual position at the right-back while Young-Pyo Lee should come in at the left where Chimbonda played for the last couple of games. New Brazilian recruit Gilberto is out of the game as he picked a calf injury while Kevin Prince Boateng is also ruled out with a hamstring problem. Didier Zokora is back in the squad after the end of Ivory Coast's adventure in Africa but he is unlikely to go straight to the line-up. Dimitar Barbatov was only on the bench on Saturday but now should come in for Darren Bent while Radek Cerny will be on goal again as he faces his former club.
Suspended
- ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaroslav Cerny | |||
| Frantisek Drizdal | |||
| Gaucho RMB | |||
| Petr Janda | |||
| Kalivoda David | |||
| Milan Ivana | |||
| Ondrej Sourek | |||
| Volesak Ladislav | |||
| Vorel Michal |
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adel Taarabt | |||
| Darren Bent | |||
| Didier Zokora | |||
| Ledley King | |||
| Paul T Robinson | |||
| Teemu Tainio | |||
| Tom Huddlestone |
Transfer in
- Josef Kubasek (gk)(Banik), David Strihavka (att)(Norwich), Jan Blazek (att)(Slovan), Jaroslav Cerny (mid)(Ceske Bedejovice), Goce Toleski (att)(Most), Marek Jarolim (mid)(Viktoria Pilzen)
Transfer out
- Stanislav Vlcek (att)(Anderlecht), Michael Svec (def)(Heerenveen), Marcel Gecov (mid)(Slovan), Borek Dockal (mid)(Slovan), Lukas Vacha (mid)(Slovan), Thomas Necid (att)(Jablonec), Michel Fernando Costa (mid)(Pribram), Milan Cerny (mid)(Kadno), Tomas Jablonsky (def), Jakub Divis (mid)
Transfer in
- Chris Gunter (def)(Cardiff), Jonathan Woodgate (def)(Middlesbrough), Alan Hutton (def)(Rangers), Gilberto (def)(Hertha)
Transfer out
- Phil Ifil (def)(Colchester), David Button (gk)(Grays), Hossam Ghaly (mid)(Derby County), Ben Alnwick (gk)(Leicester), Lee Barnard (att)(Southend), Wayne Routledge (mid)(Aston Villa), Anthony Gardner (def)(Everton), Paul Stalteri (def)(Fulham)m, Jermaine Defoe (att)(Portsmouth)
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
Transfer in
- Josef Kubasek (gk)(Banik), David Strihavka (att)(Norwich), Jan Blazek (att)(Slovan), Jaroslav Cerny (mid)(Ceske Bedejovice), Goce Toleski (att)(Most), Marek Jarolim (mid)(Viktoria Pilzen)
Transfer out
- Stanislav Vlcek (att)(Anderlecht), Michael Svec (def)(Heerenveen), Marcel Gecov (mid)(Slovan), Borek Dockal (mid)(Slovan), Lukas Vacha (mid)(Slovan), Thomas Necid (att)(Jablonec), Michel Fernando Costa (mid)(Pribram), Milan Cerny (mid)(Kadno), Tomas Jablonsky (def), Jakub Divis (mid)
Tottenham Hotspur
Last updated: Wed 30 November -0001 00:00 Solid form of late ... Hutton (r)(def) and Gunter (sp)(def) ineligible while Bale (r)(def) and Assou-Ekotto (sp)(def) are out injured ... Dawson (sp)(def) ruled out while King (k)(def) makes the squad; Zokora (r)(mid) back in the fold but unlikely to start; Boateng (sp)(mid) and Gilberto (def) out injured ... Tottenham start the knock-out stage of the UEFA Cup at Prague where they played last season against the same opposition and will look to do better than reaching the last eight of the competition which was their limit last year. Juande Ramos is on a mission of winning a third UEFA Cup in a row and will be confident of a success against the Czech given Spurs' impressive run of form lately. The played some great football lately and the manager will hope for more of the same in the European stage as a good result is vital in setting in a good prospective ahead of the White Hart Lane clash a week later. Ramos already faced Slavia this season in the Champions League as he was still a manager of Sevilla and enjoyed a 4:2 victory. He will be again without long-term absentees Bennoit Assou-Ekotto and Gareth Bale. They were joined on the sidelines by Michael Dawson who suffered a hamstring problem on Saturday at Derby County and will need three weeks to overcome it. Fellow defender Ledley King is unlikely to be risked as he is still troubled by a knee problem and will be kept for the big game against Chelsea in ten days' time. He actually makes the squad and could be involved. Meanwhile, another two defenders will miss the game as well as Alan Hutton and Chris Gunter are both ineligible after not being registered. Thus, Pascal Chimbonda will be restored on his usual position at the right-back while Young-Pyo Lee should come in at the left where Chimbonda played for the last couple of games. New Brazilian recruit Gilberto is out of the game as he picked a calf injury while Kevin Prince Boateng is also ruled out with a hamstring problem. Didier Zokora is back in the squad after the end of Ivory Coast's adventure in Africa but he is unlikely to go straight to the line-up. Dimitar Barbatov was only on the bench on Saturday but now should come in for Darren Bent while Radek Cerny will be on goal again as he faces his former club.
Suspended
- ---
Probable Starting 11
Probable Bench
| Player | Rat. | Pos. | No. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adel Taarabt | |||
| Darren Bent | |||
| Didier Zokora | |||
| Ledley King | |||
| Paul T Robinson | |||
| Teemu Tainio | |||
| Tom Huddlestone |
Transfer in
- Chris Gunter (def)(Cardiff), Jonathan Woodgate (def)(Middlesbrough), Alan Hutton (def)(Rangers), Gilberto (def)(Hertha)
Transfer out
- Phil Ifil (def)(Colchester), David Button (gk)(Grays), Hossam Ghaly (mid)(Derby County), Ben Alnwick (gk)(Leicester), Lee Barnard (att)(Southend), Wayne Routledge (mid)(Aston Villa), Anthony Gardner (def)(Everton), Paul Stalteri (def)(Fulham)m, Jermaine Defoe (att)(Portsmouth)
Key
Key players
Regular players
Support players
75% - Chance of availability
Artificial Pitch
Universal Player Grid
Squad Confirmed
Played in Cup fixture
New Information
Team Strength*
Excellent
Good
Satisfactory
Just Adequate
Poor
*Based on Available Players