Slavia Prague (Cze) vs Royale Union SG (Bel) prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – Qualification betting tips on match 2024-08-06 17:00.
[p]Slavia Prague’s first appearance in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) third qualifying round since 2021/22 sees them two games away from taking their place in the league phase of the revamped competition. After missing out on the Czech title by just two points to rivals Sparta last term, they’ve started strongly this season and are yet to concede a goal (W2, D1), most recently beating Slovan Liberec 1-0, so they carry some momentum ahead of this clash with Union Saint-Gilloise.[/p]
[p]This is Slavia’s first meeting with Belgian opponents since defeating Genk 4-1 on aggregate in the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League (UEL). But their 0-0 draw in the home leg of that tie was their third consecutive failure to score at home against Belgian sides (D1, L2), something they’ll be keen to avoid repeating.[/p]
[p]Union have already claimed silverware this term, beating Anderlecht 2-1 to win the Belgian Super Cup, and like their upcoming opponents, they are yet to lose in league action this campaign (W1, D1). Although less experienced on the continental stage than Slavia, they are fast learners, progressing to the UEL quarter-finals in 2022/23 and last season reaching the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) round of 16.[/p]
[p]Both of their UECL knockout victories last term saw them triumph in the away leg, suggesting that the Belgians should travel well here, although they lost 3-0 on the road to Rangers in their only previous UCL experience. That should ensure there’ll be no complacency as the Unionists prepare for their first meeting with a team from the Czech Republic.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Slavia’s David Douděra netted inside two minutes of their recent 4-0 league win over České Budějovice, while all three of his goals last season were in Europe, including a 15th-minute opener against Servette. Similarly, Dennis Eckert Ayensa made it 1-0 inside ten minutes for Union against Beerschot (W 3-1), something he also did in two of his three European goalscoring outings last term.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Slavia have scored exactly twice before the 30th minute in each of their last three competitive home fixtures (W3).[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]