Preview: Slavia Prague vs. Servette - prediction, team news, lineups

Victory will ensure the Czech club pip Roma to top spot and avoid slipping into the playoffs, while their visitors have already been eliminated.

Match preview

Thanks to a dramatic late win in Transnistria last month, Slavia Prague are in pole position to be one of eight group winners that automatically reach the Europa League's last 16, with a 3-2 success over Sheriff Tiraspol keeping them top of Group G.

Muhamed Tijani's stoppage-time penalty proved the difference, and as Jindrich Trpisovsky's side also have a superior goal difference to second-placed Roma, even a draw could now see them through - providing the Giallorossi do not go goal crazy against Sheriff.

Approaching their final fixture, Slavia sit two points clear of Roma at the summit - having both won and lost 2-0 against Jose Mourinho's men - so another victory will certainly see them avoid an additional playoff against a third-placed team from the Champions League.

Ahead of Servette's visit to Eden Arena, the Cervenobili have won both of their previous Group G games in the Czech capital - thumping Sheriff 6-0 and then beating Roma - and they will kick off their final home fixture amid some impressive form.

Although they still trail bitter rivals Sparta Prague in the First League standings, Slavia's 2-0 win over Mlada Boleslav on Sunday was their sixth in succession across all competitions, with Vaclav Jurecka finding the net in five.

While November's 1-1 draw with Roma confirmed that Servette's Europa League adventure would end this week, the third-placed teams in each group will all switch to the Europa Conference League's knockout-round playoffs.

As the Swiss side sit four points clear of rock-bottom Sheriff, their continental campaign will therefore continue in UEFA's third-tier tournament early next year.

Servette now travel to Prague having gone unbeaten in 12 games, winning eight, and Roma were the last side to get the better of them in any competition, way back in October.

A 2-0 defeat of Grasshopper last weekend saw Rene Weiler's men cement their top-four spot in the Swiss Super League, and they are within five points of leaders and reigning champions Young Boys.

Back in Europe after a 21-year absence, Les Grenats were eliminated in the Champions League qualifiers and will now exit the Europa League, but they have at least done enough to seal a place in February's Conference League playoff draw.

Slavia Prague Europa League form:

L

W

W

L

W

W

Slavia Prague form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

W

W

Servette Europa League form:

L

L

D

W

D

Servette form (all competitions):

W

W

W

D

D

D

Advert - content below:

Team News

Slavia Prague's injury list on Thursday evening will feature Matej Jurasek, Jan Boril, Lukas Provod and long-term absentee David Pech. Lukas Masopust, a scorer in September's reverse fixture - which ended 2-0 to the Czech club - is also unavailable.

Captain Tomas Holes marked his 100th league appearance for the club last weekend and will feature in the back three once again, as part of Jindrich Trpisovsky's 3-4-1-2 formation.

Controversial Dutch midfielder Mohammed Ihattaren recently signed for Slavia as a free agent, but the former Juventus and PSV man will not be involved as he continues to build his fitness with a personal training program. Instead, Oscar Dorley continues to run the hosts' engine room.

Meanwhile, Servette are still without key player Enzo Crivelli, but Chris Bedia has led the line well in the French forward's absence and has two Group G goals to his name so far.

Rene Weiler is also missing David Douline and first-choice goalkeeper Joel Mall at the moment, so Jeremy Frick will deputise for the latter at Eden Arena.

Slavia Prague possible starting lineup:

Mandous; Holes, Ogbu, Vlcek; Doudera, Zafeiris, Dorley, Wallem, Dumitrescu; Jurecka; Van Buren, Chytil

Servette possible starting lineup:

Frick; Tsunemoto, Severin, Rouiller, Baron; Stevanovic, Ondua, Cognat, Bolla; Kutesa, Bedia

We say: Slavia Prague 2-0 Servette

Previews by email