Copenhagen's Czech task

22/08 2011 09:22

After last Tuesday’s 3-1 loss at home to Czech champions FC Viktoris Plzen, FC Copenhagen can expect a difficult task on Wednesday. The Lions have to score three goals, and it's not everyone who scores three against Plzen at home. However, taking into account Plzen will be playing in Prague rather than their usual home ground, the odds may be more favourable than once thought.

by Joe Short

Copenhagen earned a deserved 1-0 victory at the CASA Arena against AC Horsens at the weekend, a good prelude to Wednesday's match, but the same was true for Plzen.

The Czech champions warmed up for the crucial return leg with an away game in the fourth round in the domestic Gambrinus Liga, where Plzen once again scored a hatful of goals. They beat Dukla Praha 4-2, with the main threat from Tuesday again proving successful in front of goal. Vaclav Pilar accounted for two and proved that he is in a great run of form. The other two goalscorers in the 4-2 victory were Jiracek Petr and Michal Duris.

With the victory Plzen have moved up the table, but they are still only seventh and are five points behind league leaders Sparta Prague, who won 1-0 on Sunday night over Hradec Kralove.

Plzen are strong at home, but…

Wednesday's opponents are a good home team, and some might even say a very good home team. Plzen didn’t lose a single home game last season in the Grabrinus Liga, and picked up 11 victories and four draws. In fact, to go back another season, Plzen still managed seven wins and seven draws from 15 home games, meaning in two seasons the Czechs have only lost just one game at home.

…When Copenhagen last visited Prague

The task is simple. Copenhagen need to win by three goals in Prague if they are to secure a place in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. It looks obviously difficult, but one should recall just two years ago FCK’s last visit to Prague.

Then, Sparta Prague were defeated and it was an enjoyable evening if you were a fan of Copenhagen. In December 2009 the Lions delivered a first-class performance in a freezing cold Czech capital. Copenhagen didn’t just win, they won 3-0, meaning the club secured their progression to the last 16 of the UEFA Cup.

Dame N'Doye twice scored in the first half, and in the second Jesper Grønkjær made it 3-0 from the penalty spot. It was also said that the margin of victory could have been larger than it was, come full time.

Wednesday's stadium

Since Plzen’s own ground is not endorsed by UEFA, the match must instead be played in Prague, at Slavia Prague’s home. This stadium is known as the Stadion Eden, but we should probably mention it’s new name of the Synot Tip Arena, as since 31 March 2009 it has been under the sponsorship of the Czech betting company.

The Synot Tip Arena seats 21,000 spectators and is the most modern stadium in the Czech Republic. Ordinarily the Synot Tip Arena is home of Viktoria Plzen’s league rivals Slavia Prague, but the Czech national side also stage some of their home international matches in the ground.

Plzen are not unfamiliar to this stadium, but their new home offers a potential levelling of the scales. Roland Nilsson and his side go into the match with a simple aim: win by three goals.