Preview 8th round: Prague derby, newcomers battle it out

FK Jablonec - FK Mladá Boleslav (Friday, 20:15)

The round kicks off with the televised duel between Jablonec and Boleslav, both with European ambitions next season.  Jablonec have home advantage and will use the match to debut young defender Matěj Hanousek and Petr Ryse.  Boleslav have the second best goalscorer in the league in Jíří Skalák and will surely give Jablonec a run for their money. 

FK Dukla Praha - FC Zbrojovka Brno (Saturday, 15:30)

Dukla welcome Brno with both sides lying just below mid table.  Dukla are unbeaten in their last three matches, taking seven points.  Brno have only taken one point away from home so far this season against Olomouc, and have lost their last two matches.  Dukla will have to do without Matěj Hanousek, who moved to Jablonec, but he is replaced by Latvian defender Gorkšs. 

1.FC Příbram - FC Vysočina Jihlava (Saturday, 15:30)

Příbram and Jihlava have been out of form recently.  Going on their encounters in previous years, we can expect a close match.  Bookmakers slightly favour the team around Roman Bednař, but what’s your tip? 

1.FC Slovácko - Bohemians Praha 1905 (Saturday, 15:30)

Bohemians travel to Slovácko in hopes of notching up their first win of the season.  Slovácko had a great start to the season, but in the last two rounds they went down to Liberec and Brno.  Similary, Bohemians lost their last two matches to Teplice and Plzeň.  Looking at their form, the match could be anybody’s. 

FK Teplice - FC Baník Ostrava (Saturday, 15:30)

Saturday afternoon sees Teplice welcome Ostrava.  While Ostrava shamefully lost in the second round of the MOL Cup, Teplice also went down 3:0 to Pardubice.  Teplice have notched up eight points so far this season, all at home.  Ostrava have had a terrible season and are firmly bottom of the table, with a single point. 

SK Sigma Olomouc - FC Fastav Zlín (Saturday, 15:30)

In the Moravian derby, Olomouc take on Zlín.  Zlín have had a dream start to the season and lie fifth in the table.  Conversely, Sigma are a further eight positions down the table.  Zlín are the favourites going into the match, and in their last clash six years ago the two teams split the points in a 1:1 draw. 

FC Viktoria Plzeň - FC Slovan Liberec (Saturday, 18:15)

Saturday also sees third place Plzeň take on second place Liberec, in what promises to be a thriller.  Plzeň did not have a great start to the season, but have turned it around, winning their last two matches against Příbram and Bohemians.  Liberec, along with Sparta, are unbeaten in the league so far this season.  Can Liberec extend their unbeaten run or do Plzeň have other plans? 

SK Slavia Praha - AC Sparta Praha (Sunday, 15:00)

Sunday sees the Prague derby at Eden, which will be the 284th meeting between the two Prague sides.  On Sunday, two of the best strikers in the league will go up against each other, Škoda for Slavia and Lafata for Sparta.  Sparta are unbeaten this season, while Slavia have only lost to Plzeň and Brno and are unbeaten at home.  In front of a sold out crowd, it should be a thriller.