Aston Villa will look to build on their 2-1 win over Ajax on Matchday 1 as Slavia Prague begin their own group stage adventure.
East To Eden
The Villans, flying high domestically, have every reason to be confident heading into this game.
Despite a defeat to Newcastle at the weekend they remain firmly in the European zone at home, while that first matchday win over Ajax, hard-fought though it may have been, was the desired result.
In the face of a few injury concerns Martin O’Neill could ring the changes here, but he will know as well as anyone that going for three points, rather than a cautious draw, will ultimately serve his squad for the best.
After all, three consecutive wins in the group stage would render the fourth game all but a formality, meaning that some real rest and recuperation can take place.
Flying High
Still, they must be wary, for table-topping Slavia come into this game in high spirits.
The SesÃvani are four points clear of Mlada Boleslav at the top of the Gambrinus Liga with 29 from a possible 36 - a quite remarkable record for last season’s champions.
Furthermore they have suffered just one defeat in the league all season - on opening day, oddly enough, against Slovan Liberec - and one in the Champions League, against Fiorentina in the third qualifying round.
Since then the Czechs have gone sixteen games unbeaten in all competitions, scoring freely as they go.
Nonetheless their record against English sides could be better - few will forget their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Arsenal last year. Thus it is to their credit that they managed a 0-0 draw in the return leg in the Czech capital…
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FORM GUIDE
Slavia
02 Nov 08 Brno (H) WON 2-1
27 Oct 08 Mlada Boleslav (A) DREW 0-0
22 Oct 08 Spartak Sesimovo (A) WON 4-0
19 Oct 08 Kladno (H) WON 5-0
06 Oct 08 Sparta Prague (A) WON 4-1
Aston Villa
03 Nov 08 Newcastle (A) LOST 2-0
29 Oct 08 Blackburn (H) WON 3-2
26 Oct 08 Wigan (A) WON 4-0
23 Oct 08 Ajax (H) WON 2-1
18 Oct 08 Portsmouth (H) DREW 0-0
TEAM NEWS
Slavia
Young striker Tomas Necid is ineligible for this clash, meaning that Goce Toleski may line up in a forward position, supported by veteran playmaker Vladimir Smicer. The flat back four will most likely remain unchanged from recent matches, given the side’s decent defensive record. There are no suspension worries.
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