The 2023-24 Czech Republic 1. Liga kicks off on Saturday. A new season brings plenty of optimism to fans around the world.
Sparta Praha are reigning league champions and go into the new campaign seeking a 14th all-time title.
FK Teplice failed to defeat Viktoria Plzeň in their last six head-to-head meetings. Viktoria Plzeň posted a record of four wins and two draws in those six head-to-head fixtures. Two of the last three games between these teams had a red card.
Viktoria Plzeň finished the regular season in third place last term. They posted a record of 17W-6D-7L before the championship playoffs. Viktoria Plzeň struggled away from home near the end of the season failing to win any of their last five away fixtures.
FK Teplice finished 13th in the 16-team league. They just avoided relegation thanks to a strong finish to the campaign. Teplice won just eight of their 30 home games, but five of those wins came at home.
Slavia Praha just edged FC Hradec Králové in their last six head-to-head meetings, with three wins, one draw, and two defeats. Last season, FC Hradec Králové took four points from six on offer against Slavia. Indeed, FC Hradec Králové went unbeaten in their last three games versus Slavia Praha.
Hradec ended the regular season in eighth place last term. They had a record of 11W-5D-14L and a goal difference of –6.
Despite failing to defeat FC Hradec Králové last season, Slavia Praha finished the campaign in second place in the regular season. Slavia were just two points off first-placed Sparta at the end of the regular season. No team scored more than Slavia’s 81 goals.
Slovacko are aiming for a third straight game without a loss against SK Dynamo České Budějovice. Last season, Slovacko took four points from six on offer. Slovacko are unbeaten in three straight home matches versus Dynamo.
SK Dynamo České Budějovice struggled last term, ending the regular season in 12th place. The team had a record of 10W-5D-15L. Away from home SK Dynamo České Budějovice won a mere four games.
Slovacko were fifth in the final regular season standings and qualified for the championship playoffs. The team was not strong in front of goal, scoring just 36 times. It was the fourth-fewest goals in the league.
Reigning league champions Sparta Praha are aiming to start the new season on the front foot against SK Sigma Olomouc. Sparta took four points from six last season against Olomouc.
Sparta Praha lost just two of 30 regular season games last term. They tallied the second-most goals (70) and conceded the second-fewest (29).
SK Sigma Olomouc had a strong campaign in 2022-23, missing out on the championship playoffs. Sigma finished sixth, with 41 points. They had a goal difference of +5.