Slavia Prague Draws with Bilbao in Champions League – 0-0
Slavia Prague and Athletic Bilbao Share Points in Champions League Stalemate
Prague – Slavia Prague and Athletic Bilbao battled to a scoreless draw in a Champions League Group Stage encounter on Wednesday, leaving the Czech champions still searching for their first win in the competition’s group phase in over 16 years.
The match, played at the Eden Arena, saw Slavia goalkeeper Jindřich Staněk deliver a man-of-the-match performance, thwarting Bilbao’s attacking efforts with a series of crucial saves, particularly in the second half. Bilbao, a semi-finalist in last season’s Europa League, dominated possession and created the clearer chances, but Staněk proved impenetrable.
Staněk Shines as Bilbao Presses
Bilbao came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second half, with Staněk denying Inaki Williams and Nico Williams – who came on as a substitute – with impressive stops. The Czech Republic international goalkeeper was called into action three times within a short span, showcasing his agility and reflexes.
“We knew Bilbao would be dangerous, especially with players like the Williams brothers,” said Slavia manager Jindřich Trpišovský after the match. “Jindřich [Staněk] was outstanding tonight. He kept us in the game.”
Slavia Struggles to Find the Net
Slavia, currently leading the Czech First League, have now gone 12 consecutive games without a win in European competitions, with their last victory in the Champions League group stage coming in 2007. Despite a spirited effort, they lacked the cutting edge in attack to trouble the Bilbao defense consistently.
The draw leaves Slavia in a challenging position in the newly formatted Champions League, where all 36 participating teams compete in a single league table. Only the top 24 teams advance to the knockout stages, with the top eight receiving a direct route to the round of 16.
Looking Ahead: Tottenham Hotspur Await
Slavia’s next challenge comes on December 9th, when they travel to London to face Tottenham Hotspur. The team will need to rediscover their scoring touch and tighten their defense if they hope to have any chance of progressing in the competition.
The new Champions League format, implemented last season, aims to increase the competitiveness and excitement of the tournament. However, it also presents a greater challenge for teams from smaller leagues like the Czech First League, who face a higher level of competition from across Europe.
Match Details
Slavia Prague: Staněk – Moses, Zima, Chaloupek, Mbodji (Bořil 55’) – Zafeiris (Chytil 79’), Sadílek – Douděra (Holeš 55’), Provod, Sanyang (Kušej 55’) – Chorý.
Athletic Bilbao: Simón – Areso (Lekue 79’), Vivian, Paredes, Boiro – De Galarreta (Jauregizar 64’), Rego – Berenguer (N. Williams 58’), Sancet (Sánchez 58’), Navarro – Guruzeta (Gómez 79’).
Referee: Rumšas (Lithuania)
Champions League – Selected Results (November 8, 2023)
- Ajax Amsterdam – Benfica Lisbon 0:2
- Galatasaray – Saint-Gilloise 0:1
- Bodö/Glimt – Juventus Turin 2:3
- Dortmund – Villarreal 4:0
- Chelsea – FC Barcelona 3:0
- Manchester City – Leverkusen 0:2
- Marseille – Newcastle 2:1
- Napoli – Karabakh 2:0
Current Champions League Standings (Top 32)
| Rank | Team | Played | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals For | Goals Against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Bayern Munich | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 14:3 | 12 | |
| 2. | Arsenal | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11:0 | 12 | |
| 3. | Inter Milan | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11:1 | 12 | |
| 28. | Bilbao | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4:9 | 4 | |
| 30. | Slavia Praha | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 2:8 | 3 |
Source: UEFA Champions League Official Website