Slavia Prague host last season’s beaten finalists Arsenal in a UEFA Champions League league-phase match at Fortuna Arena on Wednesday. The Gunners lost 4-3 on penalties to defending champions PSG in the title match following a 1-1 draw after extra time.
Slavia Prague are top of the Czech First League, with 31 points from 13 games, seven points ahead of second-placed Mladá Boleslav.
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Červenobílí beat Jablonec 5-0 away from home in their most recent top-flight match on Saturday, with Mubarak Suleiman netting twice while the other goals came courtesy of Emmanuel Ayaosi, Ange N’Guessan, and Danijel Šturm at the Stadion Střelnice.
In Champions League action, Slavia Prague have endured a tough opening three games this season, losing two and drawing one.
The Czech club lost 3-2 at home against French Ligue 1 side Lens on the opening matchday, before a 2-0 loss to Azeri side Sabah at Baku Stadium.
Slavia finally earned their first point of the campaign on their third attempt, in a 2-2 stalemate with Turkish giants Fenerbahce in Turkey.
Coach Jindřich Trpišovský will hope that his side can build on that away point with a positive result at home this week, but hosting the Gunners will be an exceptionally difficult challenge for the team from Prague.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are one of the strongest teams in Europe at the moment, and they top the English Premier League with 24 points from nine matches, three ahead of second-placed Manchester City.
The Gunners defeated rivals Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield on Sunday, thanks to a first-half goal from German striker Kai Havertz and a defensive masterclass that kept the Reds at bay.
Arsenal are unbeaten in this season’s Champions League after recording two wins and a draw in their first three games. They are seventh in the standings with seven points, tied with VfB Stuttgart and two points away from the top five teams.
Mikel Arteta’s side kicked off their league-phase campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory away to Napoli before securing a comfortable 3-0 win at home against French side Lille in the second game.
The third matchday featured a heavyweight European clash between Arsenal and Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Germany, and it did not disappoint as an all-action encounter ended 2-2.
Eberechi Eze put Arsenal in front in the 25th minute before Alphonso Davies restored parity for Bayern.
Star striker Harry Kane scored a penalty to put the home team ahead, but Kane’s England teammate Declan Rice equalized for the Gunners in the 82nd minute to earn a share of the spoils.
Slavia Prague vs Arsenal head-to-head stats and key numbers
- In five previous matches between these sides, Arsenal have the upper hand, with three wins and two draws.
- Their most recent meeting took place in last season’s UEFA Champions League league phase, with the Gunners beating Slavia Prague 3-0 on the road. Mikel Merino scored a brace after an opening goal via the penalty spot from Bukayo Saka.
- Following this match against the Gunners, Slavia Prague will play league-phase matches against Villarreal, Bayern Munich, Porto, and Aston Villa.
- After this week’s match, Arsenal’s league-phase fixtures will include matches against Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Real Betis, and Sabah.
Slavia Prague vs Arsenal prediction
Slavia Prague typically adopt an aggressive, high-pressing structure at home, while they will look to make the most of their aerial threat against the visitors.
Arsenal are expected to dictate the tempo while remaining defensively resilient, keeping the ball with their fluid passing and allowing their technical and hard-working midfielders like Rice and Martin Ødegaard to create goal-scoring opportunities for their impressive forward line.
Arsenal have been in exceptional form and, coming off a measured victory against Liverpool, the Gunners will be confident that they can return to London with all three points here.
Prediction: Slavia Prague 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague vs Arsenal betting tips
Tip 1: Arsenal to win
Tip 2: Arsenal to keep a clean sheet
Tip 3: Arsenal to be winning by halftime
Edited by Peter Pedroncelli
