Jablonec vs. MŠK Žilina: Preview and betting tips

Jablonec will face the most important home game of the autumn on Thursday. In the Czechoslovak derby, they will face Žilina, who made it to the play-offs from the first preliminary round. How will Petr Rada’s charges fare?

Jablonec did not start the new season well. It lost twice to Celtic in the Europa League qualifiers and won only one of its opening four games in the league. With four points they are only tenth in the table.

Žilina, on the other hand, is enjoying the start of the season. It has made it through three Conference League preliminary rounds (knocking out Dilu Goli, Apollon and Tobol) and won three of its first four league games. Moreover, according to the fans, Žilina is playing the best football of the Slovak teams in the cups.

If there is anyone from the North Bohemian team that can be praised, it is definitely the central midfielder Jakub Považanec. Experienced offensive all-rounder Václav Pilař is also maintaining a steady performance.

In the jersey of Žilina, Armenian Vahan Bichakhchyan is burning in the qualification, he scored four times. Twenty-two-year-old Dávid Ďuriš added another three goals and one assist, while midfielder Ján Bernát also did well.

Jablonec’s defence is not working from the start of the season, with thirteen goals in the last five games and not a single clean sheet.

This is even worse news for Czech football, as Žilina have scored nine times in their last three games. Given their good form, I expect them not to lose the match.