With a mountain to climb if they’re to reach the Champions League’s group phase, Sparta take on Slovak champions Zilina tonight at a sold-out Pod Dubnom stadium.

Libor Sionko and Bony Wilfried are both back from suspension but Sparta will be missing central defensive duo Tomas Repka and Erich Brabec, both of whom picked up their second yellow cards of the tournament in the first leg, and Marek Matejovsky, who’s in the middle of a three-game ban.

Adding to coach Jozef Chovanec’s problems, Sparta’s extensive injury list currently features forward Milos Lacny, defender Ondrej Kusnir, midfielder Igor Zofcak and defensive midfielder Lubos Husek, with attacking midfielder/forward Vaclav Kadlec also unlikely to play.

Sparta have been preparing for tonight’s game in the spa town of Rajecke Teplice, around 15 kilometers from Zilina.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2010/11
PLAY-OFFS, SECOND LEG
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25TH, 2010
MSK Zilina (Slovakia) vs. Sparta Praha (8:45pm Czech Time)
Venue: Stadion Pod Dubnom, Zilina, Slovakia (Capacity: 11,181)
Czech TV Coverage: Live on CT4
First Leg: 2-0

Predicted Sparta Starting Line-Up: Blazek — Adiaba, Kladrubsky, Hejda, Pamic — Hoheneder — Sionko, Kucka, Vachousek, Krejci — Wilfried

UEFA.com Coverage

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), UEFA.com

After a dismal start to the season, Teplice eased the pressure on coach Jiri Plisek yesterday (Monday), with a win over Slavia.

Teplice, who took just two points from their opening four games, came back from a Vlastimil Vidlicka own goal thanks to a goal from former Slavia player David Kalivoda and a penalty from veteran midfielder Pavel Verbir.

Teplice’s second win in two games means Slavia, after a promising start, have now lost two in a row.

GAMBRINUS LIGA 2010/11
SIXTH ROUND
MONDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2010
Teplice 2, Slavia Praha 1
Half Time: 1-1
Goals: 37th Kalivoda, 68th Verbir (penalty) — 22nd Vidlicka (own goal)
Attendance: 7,515
Sam’s Prediction: Draw (Wrong)

Gambrinus Liga Highlights on iDnes.cz

GAMBRINUS LIGA STANDINGS
AFTER SIX OF 30 ROUNDS
1st Plzen, 16 points
2nd Olomouc, 14
3rd Mlada Boleslav, 10
4th Sparta Praha, 9
5th Ceske Budejovice, 8
6th Slavia Praha, 8
=7th Jablonec, 8
=7th Teplice, 8
9th Hradec Kralove, 8
10th Liberec, 7
11th Slovacko, 7
12th Bohemians 1905, 6
13th Pribram, 6
14th Ostrava, 5
15th Usti nad Labem, 5
16th Brno, 3

Gambrinus Liga Results & Fixtures

LEADING SCORERS
=1st Jan Rezek (Viktoria Plzen), 5 goals
=1st Michal Hubnik (Sigma Olomouc), 5
=3rd Bony Wilfried (Sparta Praha), 4
=3rd Karol Kisel (Slavia Praha), 4
=5th Tomas Pekhart (Baumit Jablonec), 3
=5th Pavel Horvath (Viktoria Plzen), 3
=5th Andrej Keric (Slovan Liberec), 3
=5th Petr Svancara (Slovacko), 3
=5th Pavel Sultes (Sigma Olomouc), 3
=5th Zdenek Ondrasek (Dynamo Ceske Budejovice), 3

MOST CLEAN SHEETS
=1st Pavel Kucera (Dynamo Ceske Budejovice), 3 games
=1st David Bicik (Slovan Liberec), 3
=1st Miroslav Miller (Mlada Boleslav), 3
=4th Michal Danek (Banik Ostrava), 2
=4th Jiri Lindr (Hradec Kralove), 2
=4th Martin Blaha (Sigma Olomouc), 2
=4th Ales Hruska (Pribram), 2
=4th Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Praha), 2

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), CMFS (Fotbal.cz)

Plzen stay top after beating reigning champions Sparta 1-0 in Prague thanks to a goal from midfielder Petr Jiracek.

Tomas Repka returned to the Sparta side following a three-game suspension for spitting at an opponent, despite being at the centre of a new scandal.

The 36-year-old defender was fined an undisclosed sum by his club following a report in the tabloid newspaper Aha! that he got drunk at the U Sevce Matouse pub/restaurant on Wednesday, three days before the Plzen game. (Aha! Story + Photos)

Second-placed Olomouc beat Brno 3-0 but will be without captain Radim Kucera for around six weeks after the veteran defender broke his calf bone.

Elsewhere, Slovacko defender Lukas Kuban was wrongly sent off for handling the ball on the goal line after assistant referee Martin Wilczek — who had been consulted by head referee Radek Matejek over the incident — confused Kuban with his team-mate Lukas Fujerik.

GAMBRINUS LIGA 2010/11
SIXTH ROUND
FRIDAY, AUGUST 20TH, 2010
Hradec Kralove 1, Baumit Jablonec 0
Half Time: 1-0
Goal: 22nd Pilar
Attendance: 5,950

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2010
Slovan Liberec 0, Pribram 0
Attendance: 3,980

Slovacko 1, Usti nad Labem 1
Half Time: 0-0
Goals: 61st Svancara (penalty) — 69th Volek
Sent Off: 12th Kuban (Slovacko)
Attendance: 5,562

Sparta Praha 0, Viktoria Plzen 1
Half Time: 0-0
Goal: 60th Jiracek
Attendance: 7,943

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2010
Sigma Olomouc 3, Zbrojovka Brno 0
Half Time: 0-0
Goals: 54th Hubnik, 55th Sultes, 83rd Melinho
Attendance: 7,310

Bohemians 1905 2, Dynamo Ceske Budejovice 2
Half Time: 0-2
Goals: 65th Moravec, 90th(+3) Kaufman — 19th Ondrasek, 27th Ondrasek
Attendance: 2,807

Mlada Boleslav 1, Banik Ostrava 0
Half Time: 1-0
Goal: 21st Rolko
Attendance: 4,685

Gambrinus Liga Video Highlights on iDnes.cz

MONDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2010
Teplice vs. Slavia Praha (6pm)
Czech TV Coverage: Live on CT2
Sam’s Prediction: Draw

Online Coverage of all Gambrinus liga games: http://www.tipovani.cz/

GAMBRINUS LIGA STANDINGS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2010
1st Plzen, 6 games, 16 points
2nd Olomouc, 6 games, 14 points
3rd Mlada Boleslav, 6 games, 10 points
4th Sparta Praha, 6 games, 9 points
5th Ceske Budejovice, 6 games, 8 points
6th Slavia Praha, 5 games, 8 points
7th Jablonec, 6 games, 8 points
8th Hradec Kralove, 6 games, 8 points
9th Liberec, 6 games, 7 points
10th Slovacko, 6 games, 7 points
11th Bohemians 1905, 6 games, 6 points
12th Pribram, 6 games, 6 points
13th Teplice, 5 games, 5 points
14th Ostrava, 6 games, 5 points
15th Usti nad Labem, 6 games, 5 points
16th Brno, 6 games, 3 points

Gambrinus Liga Fixtures & Results

—
DRUHA LIGA (SECOND DIVISION) 2010/11
Tescoma Zlin maintained their 100-percent record, beating Zenit Caslav 1-0 on Saturday.

Varnsdorf have become the first Druha liga team to change coaches, appointing former Brno assistant coach Ales Krecek as a replacement for Zbynek Busta, who has stepped down for “family reasons”.

SECOND ROUND (RESCHEDULED)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2010
Vlasim 2, Most 0

FOURTH ROUND
FRIDAY, AUGUST 20TH, 2010
Dukla Praha 2, Trinec 0

Sezimovo Usti 2, Jihlava 0

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21ST, 2010
Sokolov 2, Sparta Praha B 2

Vlasim 4, Karvina 1

Zlin 1, Caslav 0

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22ND, 2010
Varnsdorf 3, Hlucin 2

Znojmo 0, Most 1

Kladno 1, Zizkov 3

SECOND ROUND (RESCHEDULED)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 24TH, 2010
Sezimovo Usti vs. Sparta Praha B (5pm)

DRUHA LIGA STANDINGS
MONDAY, AUGUST 23RD, 2010
1st Zlin 4 games, 12 points
2nd Dukla Praha, 4 games, 10 points
3rd Vlasim, 4 games, 10 points
4th Zizkov, 4 games, 9 points
5th Karvina, 4 games, 7 points
6th Sparta Praha B, 3 games, 7 points
7th Varnsdorf, 4 games, 6 points
8th Jihlava, 4 games, 6 points
9th Most, 4 games, 6 points
10th Sokolov, 4 games, 4 points
11th Trinec, 4 games, 4 points
12th Kladno, 4 games, 3 points
13th Caslav, 4 games, 3 points
14th Sezimovo Usti, 3 games, 3 points
15th Znojmo, 4 games, 0 points
16th Hlucin, 4 games, 0 points

Druha Liga Fixtures

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), CMFS (Fotbal.cz), Aha!

Sparta’s chances of reaching the Champions League’s group phase were dealt a severe blow last night (Tuesday) by Slovak champions MSK Zilina.

With Bony Wilfried, Marek Matejovsky and Libor Sionko all suspended and several players — including, unexpectedly, attacking midfielder/forward Vaclav Kadlec — out injured, Sparta failed to rise to the occasion and were well beaten.

Talking after the game, Sparta coach Jozef Chovanec said his team’s numerous errors had proved decisive and admitted that Zilina deserved their win, but pointed out that he was missing seven first-team regulars.

Adding to Chovanec’s woes, his team will be without central defenders Tomas Repka and Erich Brabec for next week’s second leg. Both players face automatic one-game suspensions after picking up their second yellow cards of the competition last night.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2010/11
PLAY-OFFS, FIRST LEG
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2010
Sparta Praha 0, MSK Zilina (Slovakia) 2
Half Time: 0-0
Goals: 51st Ceesay, 73rd Oravec
Attendance: 18,000
Second Leg: Wednesday, August 25th in Zilina

Sparta Team: Blazek — Adiaba, Brabec, Repka, Pamic — Hoheneder — Zofcak (78th Zeman), Kucka, Vachousek (90th Jeslinek), Lacny (68th Tresnak) — Kweuke

UEFA.com Coverage

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), CTK (SportovniNoviny.cz), UEFA.com

Sparta Praha take on Slovak champions MSK Zilina tonight (Tuesday), in the first of arguably the two most important games they’ll play all season — the last round of qualifiers before the Champions League’s group phase.

Reaching the group phase for the first time in five years would earn Sparta — a club with considerable debts — at least 180 million crowns; failure to do so would see the Czech champions play in the Europa League’s group phase.

Following a stormy away leg in Poznan in the previous round, three key Sparta players are suspended tonight — Marek Matejovsky, sent off in Poland, has been given a three-game ban while Libor Sionko, also red-carded, and Bony Wilfried, who picked up a second yellow, will sit out this game but be eligible for the away leg.

Because of this, Chovanec has brought Teplice attacking midfielder Stepan Vachousek in on a six-month loan deal and the former Czech international is expected to start tonight.

Coached by former Czech international Pavel Hapal, Zilina’s squad features several players familiar to Gambrinus liga fans, including former Zizkov forward Tomas Oravec and Czech midfielder Emil Rilke.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2010/11
PLAY-OFFS, FIRST LEG
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2010
Sparta Praha vs. MSK Zilina (Slovakia) (8:45pm)
Venue: Generali Arena, Prague 7-Letna (Capacity: 20,565)
Czech TV Coverage: Live on CT4
Second Leg: Wednesday, August 25th in Zilina

Predicted Sparta Starting Line-Up: Blazek — Kladrubsky, Brabec, Repka, Pamic — Hoheneder — Zofcak, Kucka, Vachousek, Kadlec — Lacny (Tresnak)

UEFA.com Coverage

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), CTK (SportovniNoviny.cz), UEFA.com

Last-placed Brno picked up their first win of the season yesterday (Monday), boosted by the return from injury of goalkeeper Martin Lejsal and defender Frantisek Drizdal, and by new signings Tomas Michalek and Michal Hudec.

For their opponents, Mlada Boleslav, the 3-1 defeat was their first game since French-born playmaker Ludovic Sylvestre left the club to join English Premier League newcomers Blackpool.

Teplice also picked up their first win of the season, beating neighbouring Usti nad Labem 2-0 at their own Na Stinadlech stadium. (The two teams are sharing Teplice’s ground.)

GAMBRINUS LIGA 2010/11
FIFTH ROUND
MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2010
Usti nad Labem 0, Teplice 2
Half Time: 0-0
Goals: 73rd Mahmutovic, 83rd Dosek
Attendance: 7,315
Sam’s Prediction: Teplice Win (Correct)

Zbrojovka Brno 3, Mlada Boleslav 1
Half Time: 1-0
Goals: 39th Polach, 52nd Dostalek (penalty), 59th Michalek — 48th Taborsky
Attendance: 2,408

Gambrinus Liga Highlights on iDnes.cz

GAMBRINUS LIGA STANDINGS
AFTER FIVE OF 30 ROUNDS
1st Plzen, 13 points
2nd Olomouc, 11
3rd Sparta Praha, 9 (Champions)
=4th Slavia Praha, 8
=4th Jablonec, 8
6th Mlada Boleslav, 7
7th Ceske Budejovice, 7
8th Liberec, 6
9th Slovacko, 6
=10th Bohemians 1905, 5
=10th Ostrava, 5
=10th Teplice, 5
13th Hradec Kralove, 5 (Promoted)
14th Pribram, 5
15th Usti nad Labem, 4 (Promoted)
16th Brno, 3

Gambrinus Liga Results & Fixtures

LEADING SCORERS
1st Jan Rezek (Viktoria Plzen), 5 goals
=2nd Bony Wilfried (Sparta Praha), 4
=2nd Michal Hubnik (Sigma Olomouc), 4
=2nd Karol Kisel (Slavia Praha), 4

MOST CLEAN SHEETS
1st Pavel Kucera (Dynamo Ceske Budejovice), 3 games
=2nd David Bicik (Slovan Liberec), 2
=2nd Michal Danek (Banik Ostrava), 2
=2nd Martin Blaha (Sigma Olomouc), 2
=2nd Miroslav Miller (Mlada Boleslav), 2
=2nd Jaromir Blazek (Sparta Praha), 2

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), CTK (SportovniNoviny.cz), CMFS (Fotbal.cz)

Plzen remain two points clear at the top of the table after beating Slovacko 3-0, while second-placed Olomouc picked up a 2-1 away win in Ostrava to stay two points behind the leaders.

Despite playing a hugely important Champions League qualifier on Tuesday, Sparta fielded a strong side in Pribram and won 1-0 despite Jiri Kladrubsky getting sent off early in the second half.

Contrary to what I initially wrote in Friday’s preview, Slavia fans actually called off their boycott of home games last week, only to see their team slump to their first defeat of the season — Liberec’s Jiri Stajner scored his first goal since returning to the Gambrinus liga as his team won 3-1.

The bottom two, Brno and Teplice, both play today (Monday).

GAMBRINUS LIGA 2010/11
FIFTH ROUND
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2010
Pribram 0, Sparta Praha 1
Half Time: 0-1
Goal: 42nd Wilfried
Sent Off: 49th Kladrubsky (Sparta)
Attendance: 6,453
Sam’s Prediction: Sparta Win (Correct)

Banik Ostrava 1, Sigma Olomouc 2
Half Time: 1-1
Goals: 45th(+2) Senkerik — 33rd Hubnik, 77th Rossi
Attendance: 5,432
Sam’s Prediction: Draw (Wrong)

Baumit Jablonec 3, Bohemians 1905 1
Half Time: 2-1
Goals: 34th Jarolim, 45th(+1) Vosahlik, 60th Vosahlik — 22nd Balek
Attendance: 4,122
Sam’s Prediction: Jablonec Win (Correct)

Slavia Praha 1, Slovan Liberec 3
Half Time: 1-2
Goals: 7th Kisel — 27th Keric, 37th Stajner, 90th Keric
Attendance: 8,998
Sam’s Prediction: Slavia Win (Wrong)

Viktoria Plzen 3, Slovacko 0
Half Time: 1-0
Goals: 9th Horvath, 58th Rezek, 62nd Kolar
Attendance: 5,421
Sam’s Prediction: Plzen Win (Correct)

Dynamo Ceske Budejovice 0, Hradec Kralove 0
Attendance: 3,002
Sam’s Prediction: Ceske Budejovice Win (Wrong)

Gambrinus Liga Video Highlights on iDnes.cz

MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2010
Usti nad Labem vs. Teplice (6pm)
Venue: Stadion Na Stinadlech, Teplice
Czech TV Coverage: Live on CT2
Sam’s Prediction: Teplice Win

Zbrojovka Brno vs. Mlada Boleslav (6pm)
Sam’s Prediction: Draw

Online Coverage of all Gambrinus liga games: http://www.tipovani.cz/

GAMBRINUS LIGA STANDINGS
SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2010
1st Plzen, 5 games, 13 points
2nd Olomouc, 5 games, 11 points
3rd Sparta Praha, 5 games, 9 points (Champions)
=4th Slavia Praha, 5 games, 8 points
=4th Jablonec, 5 games, 8 points
6th Mlada Boleslav, 4 games, 7 points
7th Ceske Budejovice, 5 games, 7 points
8th Liberec, 5 games, 6 points
9th Slovacko, 5 games, 6 points
=10th Bohemians 1905, 5 games, 5 points
=10th Ostrava, 5 games, 5 games
12th Hradec Kralove, 5 games, 5 points
13th Pribram, 5 games, 5 points
14th Usti nad Labem, 4 games, 4 points
15th Teplice, 4 games, 2 points
16th Brno, 4 games, 0 points

Gambrinus Liga Results & Fixtures

—
DRUHA LIGA (SECOND DIVISION) STANDINGS
THIRD ROUND
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2010
Jihlava 2, Znojmo 0

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2010
Sparta Praha B 2, Kladno 1

Most 3, Hlucin 0

Zlin 2, Sezimovo Usti 0

Trinec 0, Vlasim 0

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2010
Zizkov 2, Varnsdorf 0

Karvina 1, Dukla Praha 1

Caslav 3, Sokolov 0

SECOND ROUND (RESCHEDULED)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2010
Vlasim vs. Most (5pm)

DRUHA LIGA STANDINGS
MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2010
1st Zlin, 3 games, 9 points
2nd Karvina, 3 games, 7 points
3rd Dukla Praha, 3 games, 7 points
=4th Sparta Praha B, 2 games, 6 points
=4th Zizkov, 3 games, 6 points
6th Jihlava, 3 games, 6 points
7th Vlasim, 2 games, 4 points
8th Trinec, 3 games, 4 points
9th Kladno, 3 games, 3 points
10th Sokolov, 3 games, 3 points
11th Most, 2 games, 3 points
12th Varnsdorf, 3 games, 3 points
13th Caslav, 3 games, 3 points
14th Znojmo, 3 games, 0 points
=15th Sezimovo Usti, 2 games, 0 points
=15th Hlucin, 3 games, 0 points

Druha Liga Fixtures

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), CMFS (Fotbal.cz)

Reigning champions Sparta travel to Pribram today (Friday) presumably planning to rest key players ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League qualifier against Zilina.

The top three all play on Sunday: early leaders Plzen are at home to Slovacko on Sunday; second-placed Olomouc have a tough away game in Ostrava; and Slavia host Liberec with a section of Slavia fans still boycotting home games in protest at the Slavia/Bohemians 1905 ground-sharing deal.

The top three all play on Sunday: early leaders Plzen are at home to Slovacko on Sunday; second-placed Olomouc have a tough away game in Ostrava; and Slavia take on Liberec, in what will be their first match of the season since fans called off their boycott of home games.

Monday’s north Bohemian derby sees Teplice play an away game at their own stadium — newly promoted Usti are sharing their Na Stinadlech ground this season.

The Brno-Mlada Boleslav game has also been moved to Monday to avoid a clash with Moto GP’s Czech Grand Prix, which takes place at the Moravian capital’s Automotodrom Brno circuit this weekend.

GAMBRINUS LIGA 2010/11
FIFTH ROUND
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2010
Pribram vs. Sparta Praha (5:30pm)
Czech TV Coverage: Live on TV Nova
Sam’s Prediction: Sparta Win

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2010
Banik Ostrava vs. Sigma Olomouc (6:15pm)
Czech TV Coverage: Live on CT4
Sam’s Prediction: Draw

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2010
Baumit Jablonec vs. Bohemians 1905 (3pm)
Sam’s Prediction: Jablonec Win

Viktoria Plzen vs. Slovacko (5pm)
Sam’s Prediction: Plzen Win

Dynamo Ceske Budejovice vs. Hradec Kralove (5pm)
Sam’s Prediction: Ceske Budejovice Win

Slavia Praha vs. Slovan Liberec (5pm)
Czech TV Coverage: Live on Sport2
Sam’s Prediction: Slavia Win

MONDAY, AUGUST 16TH, 2010
Usti nad Labem vs. Teplice (6pm)
Venue: Stadion Na Stinadlech, Teplice
Czech TV Coverage: Live on CT2
Sam’s Prediction: Teplice Win

Zbrojovka Brno vs. Mlada Boleslav (6pm)
Sam’s Prediction: Draw

Online Coverage of all Gambrinus liga games: http://www.tipovani.cz/

GAMBRINUS LIGA STANDINGS
AFTER FOUR OF 30 ROUNDS
1st Plzen, 10 points
2nd Olomouc, 8
3rd Slavia Praha, 8
4th Mlada Boleslav, 7
5th Sparta Praha, 6 (Champions)
6th Slovacko, 6
7th Ceske Budejovice, 6
8th Bohemians 1905, 5
9th Ostrava, 5
10th Jablonec, 5
11th Pribram, 5
12th Hradec Kralove, 4 (Promoted)
13th Usti nad Labem, 4 (Promoted)
14th Liberec, 4
15th Teplice, 2
16th Brno, 0

Gambrinus Liga Results & Fixtures

—
DRUHA LIGA (SECOND DIVISION) 2010/11
THIRD ROUND
FRIDAY, AUGUST 13TH, 2010
Jihlava vs. Znojmo

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH, 2010
Sparta Praha B vs. Kladno (10:15am)
Venue: Treninkove centrum Horni Pocernice, Prague 9-Horni Pocernice

Trinec vs. Vlasim (10:15am)

Most vs. Hlucin (4pm)

Zlin vs. Sezimovo Usti (7pm)

SUNDAY, AUGUST 15TH, 2010
Zizkov vs. Varnsdorf (10:15am)

Karvina vs. Dukla Praha (4pm)

Caslav vs. Sokolov (5pm)

SECOND ROUND (RESCHEDULED)
TUESDAY, AUGUST 17TH, 2010
Vlasim vs. Most (5pm)

DRUHA LIGA STANDINGS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 12TH, 2010
1st Karvina, 2 games, 6 points
2nd Dukla Praha, 2 games, 6 points
3rd Zlin, 2 games, 6 points
4th Sokolov, 2 games, 3 points
5th Kladno, 2 games, 3 points
6th Varnsdorf, 2 games, 3 points
=7th Sparta Praha B, 1 game, 3 points
=7th Vlasim, 1 game, 3 points
9th Zizkov, 2 games, 3 points
10th Jihlava, 2 games, 3 points
11th Trinec, 2 games, 3 points
12th Znojmo, 2 games, 0 points
13th Hlucin, 2 games, 0 points
14th Sezimovo Usti, 1 game, 0 points
15th Most, 1 game, 0 points
16th Caslav, 2 games, 0 points

Druha Liga Fixtures

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), CMFS (Fotbal.cz)

Jakub Dovalil’s Czech Under-21 team brushed aside San Marino yesterday (Wednesday) in Prague to guarantee themselves a place in the playoffs for the European championship’s final tournament.

Along with Tomas Pekhart’s first-half hat-trick there were goals for his Jablonec team-mate Jan Kovarik and for Mlada Boleslav’s Jan Chramosta.

The Czechs’ remaining two group games are against Germany in Mlada Boleslav on September 3rd and against Iceland in Jablonec on September 7th.

Germany, the winners of the last UEFA Under-21 Championship, were knocked out of the tournament last night after losing to Iceland, Group 5’s surprise package.

UEFA UNDER-21 CHAMPIONSHIP 2009-11
QUALIFYING ROUND – GROUP 5
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2010
Czech Republic 5, San Marino 0
Half Time: 4-0
Goals: 3rd Pekhart, 14th Pekhart, 22nd Kovarik, 40th Pekhart, 47th Chramosta (penalty)
Attendance: 498

Czech Team: Vaclik — Lensky (59th Pilar), Suchy, Mazuch, Celustka — Kovarik (46th Fabian), Marecek, Gecov, Vacha — Pekhart (74th Vosahlik), Chramosta

ALSO IN GROUP 5
Iceland 4, Germany 1

GROUP 5 STANDINGS
1st Czech Republic, 6 games, 18 points
2nd Iceland, 7 games, 16 points
3rd Germany, 6 games, 8 points
4th Northern Ireland, 6 games, 4 points
5th San Marino, 7 games, 0 points

UEFA Under-21 Championship on UEFA.com

***********
Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), CMFS (match programme), UEFA.com

After a disappointing first half, the Czech Republic scored four times in 28 minutes to take complete control of last night’s friendly game in Liberec.

Talking after the match, coach Michal Bilek said he wasn’t reading too much into the impressive-sounding scoreline because it was only a friendly, and that his team would be better for next month’s opening Euro qualifier against Lithuania.

INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 11TH, 2010
Czech Republic 4, Latvia 1
Half Time: 0-0
Goals: 49th Bednar, 54th Fenin, 74th Pospech, 77th Necid — 90th(+2) Cauna
Attendance: 7,456

CZECH TEAM + DENIK SPORT PLAYER RATINGS
Jaroslav Drobny (6 out of 10)
—
Zdenek Pospech (6 out of 10)
Roman Hubnik (7 out of 10)
Michal Kadlec (6 out of 10)
Daniel Pudil (4 out of 10) (46th Jan Rajnoch, 6 out of 10)
—
Jaroslav Plasil (5 out of 10) (78th Milan Cerny, unrated)
Tomas Hubschman (6 out of 10)
Jan Polak (4 out of 10) (62nd Mario Holek, unrated)
Tomas Rosicky (5 out of 10) (62nd Jiri Stajner, unrated)
—
Roman Bednar (6 out of 10) (61st Tomas Necid, unrated)
Martin Fenin (7 out of 10) (62nd David Lafata, unrated)

Man of the Match: Martin Fenin

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Sources: Ceska televize (Teletext), Denik Sport [print edition]