Sports Mole previews Thursday's Europa Conference League clash between Viktoria Plzen and Servette, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Viktoria Plzen and Servette meet in the second leg of their Europa Conference League last-16 tie on Thursday evening.

A surprise place in the quarter-finals is up for grabs in the Czech Republic after last week's first leg ended goalless.

Match preview

Servette coach Rene Weiler reacts on February 22, 2024 © Reuters

Seeking to get their hands back on the Czech top-flight title, Plzen recorded arguably their best result of the season at the weekend as they thrashed leaders Sparta Prague by a 4-0 scoreline.

Defeating Sparta was imperative to close the gap to nine points ahead of the closing stages of the regular season and start of the Championship group, yet Miroslav Koubek will remain excited about his team's prospects on the continent.

Only posting a 0-0 draw in Switzerland last week may have felt like a disappointment, yet it kept them as favourites to earn a rare spot in the quarter-finals of a European competition.

That has never been achieved in their history, but Plzen can claim to be one of the standout teams in this year's edition of the Europa Conference League having not lost a single game, despite entering at the second qualifying round.

Plzen has also not suffered a defeat in a competitive contest since November 12, a run spanning 14 matches, while five clean sheets have been kept in six outings.

Meanwhile, Servette are bidding to progress through to the quarter-finals of a European tournament for the first time since the 1978-79 Cup Winners' Cup.

Qualifying for this season's Europa League group stages was the first time in more than two decades that they had reached the main stages of a continental competition, highlighting the magnitude of their efforts to make the last 16.

Since being demoted into the Europa Conference League, the Swiss side are yet to concede a goal, with Rene Weiler's side having overcome Ludogorets Razgrad in the previous round 1-0 on aggregate.

Since the turn of the year, Servette have lost just one of 13 matches, while Sunday's 3-1 victory over Lausanne-Sport kept them within one point of first place in the Swiss Super League.

Viktoria Plzen Europa Conference League form:

Viktoria Plzen form (all competitions):

Servette Europa Conference League form:

Servette form (all competitions):

Team News

Pavel Sulc replaced Matej Vydra and scored against Sparta at the weekend, but it remains to be seen who will partner Tomas Chory in attack.

That change involved Plzen switching to a 3-5-2 formation, but Koubek may be prepared to go back to a 4-4-2 having gone with that system in Switzerland.

Jhon Mosquera could come back into the team on the left flank should that prove to be the case, Cheick Souare dropping down to the substitutes' bench.

Meanwhile, Servette may line up with a very similar side to the one that kept them on level terms in the tie.

Miroslav Stevanovic is most likely to be recalled ahead of Jeremy Guillemenot, while Timothe Cognat is an option in central midfield having been a regular all season.

Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup:
Jedlicka; Dweh, Hranac, Jemelka, Cadu; Kopic, Kalvach, Cerv, Mosquera; Vydra, Chory

Servette possible starting lineup:
Frick; Tsunemoto, Rouiller, Severin, Magnin; Kutesa, Ondoua, Diba, Bolla; Guillemenot, Crivelli

SM words green background

We say: Viktoria Plzen 2-1 Servette (Viktoria Plzen to win 2-1 on aggregate)

This is game that could genuinely go either way, Servette having already upset the odds to reach this stage. Nevertheless, we feel that home advantage could prove key for Plzen, even though they may require extra time to come through.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.