Slovácko
- With both teams standing on 14 points after 19 rounds of the 2025-2026 Czech 1. Liga, the two teams are joint bottom of the standings, both inside the relegation zone, the same points tally and the same record of three wins, five draws and 11 losses.
- He has prioritised defensive stability and getting points on the board during a turbulent period for the club and the team has responded well at home, claiming two wins over Baník during this time.
- Slovácko are a possession team who like to play a measured, controlled game, employing inverted wide players and full-backs who push up for width.
- Michal Trávník is the key midfield general who can control tempo and add creativity to a team who have struggled for goals this season.
- Marko Kvasina and Michael Krmencik have been their preferred duo up front, but their lack of goals this term means they must find the net on Sunday.
Baník Ostrava
- Baník Ostrava, on the other hand, play an attacking style of football, a high-tempo, direct approach based on width from their wing-backs, pressing high and quick transitions.
- Tomáš Galásek took over the helm at the end of October 2025 and has settled on a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2 hybrid, where the central midfielders dominate the transitions from defence to attack and vice versa.
- Michal Kohút is the chief creator in the final third, Dennis Owusu and Ladislav Almási are the goalscorers and whoever of those three is at their best will be the most likely to win this relegation battle.
- Patrick Kpozo and Michal Frydrych are the experienced, steady presence at the back that Baník have been crying out for, but they are yet to steady the ship as the team have shipped 25 goals this campaign.
Head-to-Head
- Baník Ostrava have the best recent head-to-head record against Slovácko, winning three of the last six 1. Liga meetings, including a 6-0 home win in May 2024.
- Baník have won only one of their last five league games and conceded 25 goals.
Key Players
- Michal Trávník is the key midfield general who can control tempo and add creativity to a team who have struggled for goals this season.
- Marko Kvasina and Michael Krmencik have been their preferred duo up front, but their lack of goals this term means they must find the net on Sunday.
- Michal Kohút is the chief creator in the final third, Dennis Owusu and Ladislav Almási are the goalscorers and whoever of those three is at their best will be the most likely to win this relegation battle.
Betting Insights
- But the under 2.5 goals bet at 1.8 looks like a better bet than the straight result with both sides struggling for goals.
- Cold weather and a heavy field mean the defences may come out on top and set pieces, along with individual moments, will matter most in a tight match.
Prediction
The odds of 2.3 for the visitors seems a bit on the low side with Slovácko at 3.0 and the draw 3.1 , so we will take the visitors to edge out a win with some midweek improvements.
