Hungarian champions Ferencvaros take a slender one-goal lead to Czechia for the second leg of their Europa League knockout playoff tie against Viktoria Plzen on Thursday.
Mohammed Abu Fani's deflected first-half strike is all that separates the sides heading into the return leg, in what is arguably the toughest Europa League playoff tie to call.
Match preview
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It is still yet to be seen how much home advantage in the second leg will favour Plzen, who were only handed that luxury thanks to some complacency from Ferencvaros on matchday eight of the league phase.
Despite winning 4-3, Ferencvaros conceded two injury time goals to AZ Alkmaar, which dropped them down to 17th, below Plzen, on goal difference, and meant they were unseeded for the playoffs, which brings the perceived disadvantage of playing the second leg away.
Plzen may have rather had the first leg at home, though, because they have suffered elimination on all four previous occasions when they have lost the first leg of a European tie.
However, when playing second legs at home, Plzen have never suffered defeat, winning four and drawing one, and their form at the Doosan Arena has been impressive recently, winning three in a row, scoring 12 goals, largely thanks to a 7-2 win over Ceske Budejovice.
On the continent though, form has evaded the Czech side of late, losing three of their last four in Europe, after only suffering one defeat in the 15 games prior.
Before the first-leg loss though, Plzen's other two defeats were against Athletic Bilbao and Manchester United, so this match should be a clearer indicator of where they are at.
Miroslav Koubek's men swiftly returned to winning ways at the weekend too, with Rafiu Durosinmi scoring a brace in a 2-0 win away to Teplice, but with the title looking all but gone domestically, it is imperative they extend their European campaign.
One positive omen for the hosts is that their upcoming visitors have a woeful record in Czechia, with Ferencvaros losing all six previous matches in the country, with the most recent coming against Slavia Prague in 2021.
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Robbie Keane's men have not had ideal preparation for this clash either, losing 2-0 at home to Paksi at the weekend, slipping five points behind Puskas Akademia at the top of the league.
Form in Europe is hardly any better either, with just two wins in their last 15 away matches in the Europa League, and the Budapest club lost 5-0 and 2-0 to PAOK and Eintracht Frankfurt in their last two.
Keane has struggled to turn the tide since his appointment at the start of the year, taking just one point from his three away games so far, with the club now winless in six matches on the road in all competitions.
With just seven goals scored in Keane's seven games in charge, firing a blank in four, a strong rearguard may be required again, and Ferencvaros kept their third clean sheet of the Europa League campaign last week, the club's best tally since the 2002-03 UEFA Cup.
Team News
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Plzen's Svetozar Markovic will return after missing the Teplice win with suspension, while Daniel Vasulin is also available again following a European ban, but he is not expected to start.
Koubek rested a few players at the weekend, including attacking duo Matej Vydra and Prince Adu, and the latter could become the first Plzen player to score in three straight European home starts if he finds the net again in this one.
There was no rest for Pavel Sulc, but there is no doubt he will be one of their most influential players here, and after notching 30 goal involvements last season, the midfielder registered an assist against Teplice, taking him into double figures for both goals and assists this season.
Ferencvaros will be severely weakened by the absence of two key players at either end of the pitch, most notably top scorer Barnabas Varga, who is suspended following a late caution last week.
Goalkeeper Denes Dibusz is also a major doubt for this one with a hip injury that has kept him out for almost a month, and backup Adam Varga is also set to miss out, so 35-year-old David Grof may deputise again.
Despite losing at the weekend, Keane still picked a strong team, not being tempted to use any of the players who are unregistered in Europe, including Aleksandar Cirkovic, Lenny Joseph and Habib Maiga.
Viktoria Plzen possible starting lineup:
Jedlicka; Dweh, Markovic, Jemelka; Havel, Cerv, Kalvach, Sulc, Cadu; Vydra, Adu
Ferencvaros possible starting lineup:
Grof; Makreckis, Gartenmann, Cisse, Raul Gustavo; Zachariassen, Romao, Abu Fani; Ben Romdhane, Saldanha, Civic
We say: Viktoria Plzen 3-0 Ferencvaros
Ferencvaros have flattered to deceive under Keane, apart from two wins in Europe against Plzen and AZ, both of which were at home, and they could find this much more challenging on their travels.
Plzen are often strong at home, and have proven that in previous European ties where they remain unbeaten at the Doosan Arena in second legs, and they will still be heavily fancied to advance despite trailing on aggregate.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Andrew Delaney
