Slavia Prague will be seeking revenge against CFR Cluj when they lock horns in Romania for their Europa Conference League clash on Thursday.
The Railwaymen secured a slender 1-0 victory against the Red and Whites in Czech Republic last week, and both sides are still in a strong position to progress from Group G.
Match preview
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Since losing to Sivasspor on matchday two last month, CFR Cluj have won each of their last three games across all competitions by a 1-0 scoreline, including the narrow win over Slavia Prague last week.
Despite their lack of possession, the Railwaymen held on to claim their first three points in Group G, with Rangelo Janga scoring the only goal of the game on the stroke of half time.
Group G has now been blown wide open at the halfway stage with all four teams, including Sivasspor and Ballkani, level on four points and with the same goal difference.
Dan Petrescu's side, who played out a 1-1 draw in the Romanian top flight with UTA Arad last weekend, know that a victory on Thursday will boost their chances of progressing to the knockout rounds in European competition for the first time in three years.
However, success against a fired-up Slavia Prague outfit could prove challenging for Cluj, who have won only one of their last eight European home games.
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After enjoying an eight-game unbeaten run across all competitions, Slavia Prague have since lost three of their last four matches and failed to score in each defeat.
The 1-0 loss to Cluj was followed by a 2-0 away defeat against Sigma Olomouc on Sunday, a result which has seen Jindrich Trpisovsky's men slip four points behind Czech First League leaders Viktoria Plzen, who have also played a game less.
The Red and Whites will be keen to improve their form on the domestic front as they seek to win their 21st top-flight title, but they must first turn their attention back to the Europa Conference League, with hopes of advancing from the group stage for a second successive season still alive.
Last season's quarter-finalists have struggled on the road across all competitions in recent months, winning only four of their last 17 away matches since the beginning of March.
Slavia Prague have also won just two of their 10 away games in the Europa Conference League, although they have scored in nine of these fixtures, so they will fancy their chances of breaching Cluj's backline on Thursday.
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Team News
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Cluj duo Mihai Bordeianu and Gabriel Debeljuh are both ruled out with injuries, the latter of whom is sidelined until the New Year with a cruciate ligament problem.
Simone Scuffet made nine saves in last week's win against Slavia Prague, the most ever by a goalkeeper without conceding in a Europa Conference League fixture, and the Italian is expected to continue between the sticks on Thursday.
Bismark Adjei-Boateng scored in the 1-1 draw with UTA Arad last weekend and the Ghanaian is set to start again in centre-midfield alongside Karlo Muhar, while Rangelo Janga will be hoping to retain his place up front ahead of Cephas Malele.
As for Sparta Prague, midfielder Tomas Holes and winger Ivan Schranz remain sidelined with respective ankle and spinal injuries, while goalkeeper Ales Mandous is also set to miss out with an unspecified problem.
Ondrej Kolar is expected to continue between the sticks in the absence of Mandous, with protection provided by centre-backs Aiham Ousou and Taras Kacharaba.
Peter Olayinka was an unused substitute last weekend, but the Nigerian striker is set to return to the first XI at the expense of Vaclav Jurecka.
CFR Cluj possible starting lineup:
Scuffet; Manea, Kolinger, Matias, Camora; Boateng, Muhar, Deac; Yeboah, Malele, Petrila
Slavia Prague possible starting lineup:
Kolar; Doudera, Ousou, Kacharaba, Jurasek; Sevcik, Hromada; Ewerton, Traore, Tecl; Olayinka
We say: CFR Cluj 1-1 Slavia Prague
Slavia Prague will be keen to rediscover their goalscoring touch, and after dominating proceedings in last week's fixture, Trpisovsky's side should have plenty of chances to breach Cluj's backline.
However, Cluj should not be underestimated and we can see the Romanian side earning a hard-fought point in front of their home supporters.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
