Rome 22 February 2025 – The day after the emotional shock of having avoided the derby in the round of XNUMX, it is time for analysis. Lazio in Europa League will not face the Rome in his first knockout round, but rather the Viktoria Plzen, the team representing the Czech Republic in the competition. An unprecedented challenge on the international stage for the team from the capital and only the second team ever from the Czech championship faced by the Biancocelesti. On paper, the favourites all point to the team of Baroni as practically certain of passing to the quarter-finals, but never underestimate the heart of these teams.
Il Viktoria Plzen It is currently the second force in the standings of its domestic championship and historically it is the third team in its country. In terms of championships won in fact only Sparta Prague e Slavia Prague, with 14 and 7 titles obtained, boast more victories than the red and blues of Plzen (6). However, the team boasts a very recent success, having won the first title only in the 2010-11 season. On the bench sits a very experienced coach like Miroslav Koubek, former goalkeeper born in 1951, and at his third time on the Viktoria bench, the first dating back to the 2000-01 season, when the Lazio he boasted the shield sewn on his chest.
The team reached these round of 16 after eliminating in the play-off Ferencvaros, having overturned the defeat suffered in Hungary by 3-0 in the Czech Republic with a clear 1-0. In the championship phase they had finished in sixteenth place, behind Rome and ahead of the Hungarians, after having obtained a loot of 12 points, with 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats. On their path in chronological order Eintracht Frankfurt (N), Ludogorets (N), PAOK (N), Real Sociedad (V) Dynamo Kiev (V) Manchester United (P), Anderlecht (V) and Athletic Club of Bilbao (P). The Czechs’ journey in Europe had already begun at the beginning of August, having reached the championship stage after two qualifying rounds, where they first defeated Kryvbas (Ukraine) and Hearts (Scotland).
Young team, with an average age of just over 25, they boast in Paul Sulc the star of the team. Attacking midfielder born in 2000, in 36 games played this year he has already scored 11 goals and 11 assists. In March of last year he made his debut in the senior national team, where in 10 games he has already scored 3 times. Among the other talented youngsters of the team are the defenders Dweh e Markovice the attacker Durosinmi. However, there is no lack of experienced elements such as the goalkeeper Jedlicka and the attacker Otter, bomber also seen in Serie A e Prime minister League between Udinese, Watford, Reading e Burnley.
Although this is the first ever crossover with the Lazio, the Czech red and blue team is not new to challenges with Italian teams. In fact, there are 12 matches with teams from Serie A, with a score of 3 wins, 3 draws and 6 knockouts. For the Viktoria Plzen the trip will not be new Rome, having already challenged the Giallorossi four times in the past. Inter, Milan e Fiorentina the other teams challenged by the Czechs, who last year surrendered to Fiorentina in the quarter-finals of Conference League after drawing the first leg 0-0 in the Czech Republic and losing the match 2-0 in Florence.
The home games of the Czech team are played at the Doosan Arena, a stadium with just under 12 thousand seats, but very hot in terms of fans. The city is located near the border with Germany and is famous worldwide for its beer, pilsner, as well as being the city of the former Skoda Plant, the same one that gave birth to the car manufacturer of the same name, owned by the Wolkswagen group since 2000. The first leg will be played in the Czech Republic on March 6 at 21 pm, the return leg on the 13th with the match scheduled for 18:45 pm.
Source link : http://www.bing.com/news/apiclick.aspx?ref=FexRss&aid=&tid=67b9d4c2e4554445b42126846477c7f5&url=https%3A%2F%2Fsport.quotidiano.net%2Fen%2Fcalcio%2Flazio%2Feuropa-league-lazio-trova-il-viktoria-plzen-agli-ottavi-chi-sono-i-cechi-4ad3006b&c=7220653681042247585&mkt=de-de
Author :
Publish date : 2025-02-22 03:33:00
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
