FC Košice
- FC Košice have hit a purple patch under veteran Czech coach František Straka, who took over in October 2025.
- The hosts have won four and tied one of their last five in league, cup and friendly fixtures, including a 5-1 friendly win over Ružomberok and a cup win over the same opposition.
- But Straka has instilled the defensive discipline and set-piece organisation that has seen the club pick up some crucial results in the league in the past couple of months.
- They sit 11th in the Niké liga with 14 points and a goal difference of 24:38 after 18 games, one place and one point above Skalica.
Skalica
- Roman Hudec’s men have struggled in the Super Liga with just one tie and two defeats from their last three competitive fixtures, but he has had the luxury of watching his team beat a host of clubs in winter friendlies to build some confidence.
- Hudec has stuck to his guns with a compact 4-2-3-1 system in which his side will sit deep, stay solid and try to counterattack when possible.
- His players are not as creative or clinical as Košice’s, so they must stay compact to force the issue against any side, especially away from home.
- Skalica are bottom of the Niké liga in 12th place with 13 points and a GD of 15:27, so this really is a relegation game that could go either way.
Head-to-Head
The reverse league game was won by Skalica 1-0, so the head-to-head record is dominated by the visitors, who have won 7 of the 12 meetings in all competitions.
Key Players
- FC Košice
- Mátyás Kovács
- Roman Čerepkai
- Milan Rehuš
- Skalica
- Marek Švec
- Adam Morong
- Martin Junas
- Erik Daniel
Betting Insights
- FC Košice are slight favorites at 1.98, with Skalica 3.55 and the draw 3.3.
- Both Teams to Score is a strong market at 1.67, given Skalica have leaked 27 goals in 18 games in the Super Liga.
- Košice are the value bet here at just under even money because of their strong form and home-field advantage.
Prediction
- Both clubs need the points to climb out of the relegation zone before the league splits.
- Both clubs have the quality and gameplan to frustrate each other for 90 minutes at the Košická futbalová aréna.
- Expect a tight, tense encounter with FC Košice marginally favored.
