Sparta’s rivals were reinforced by the holder of 23 trophies! Slavic rival fights for third place with Deli’s team

Czech football fans are impatiently squatting in their seats. This week, the spring part of the Fortuna League will start! However, we must not forget that the restarts of European competitions are just around the corner. For Sparta and Slavia this means the spring part of the European Conference League, where both Prague “S” have promotion ambitions.

Both Prague S’s will have three games against domestic opponents before Europe. And for both Czech representatives in the European Cup, they will be a real test, the biggest one being a mutual derby in the MOL Cup (9 February).

Slavia will face Karviná (F::L), Sparta (MOL Cup) and Slovácko (F::L) before their clash with Fenerbahce. Before Partizan Belgrade, Leten will face České Budějovice (F::L), Slavia (MOL Cup) and Viktoria Plzeň (F::L).

But how do the rivals of the Czech big clubs fare? Fenerbahce has virtually no winter break, the Turkish Super League continues over the winter period except for a two-week break.

The Istanbul team has not strengthened in the winter, the Iranian national player Allahyar Sayyadmanesh returned from a guest appearance, but Fenerbahce is unlikely to count on him.

In the Turkish league, Fenerbahce is currently 5th in the table, but only one point behind third place.

One of its main competitors is Simon Deli’s team Adan Demirspor. From the last five matches Fenerbahce has rolled out two wins, two draws and one loss.

Prague Sparta’s opponent, Partizan Belgrade, has more or less similar conditions to the Czech clubs, thus it is in the preparatory period. However, they will have only one live game before the ECL.

Partizan leads the Serbian Super League by 5 points ahead of rival Crvena Zvezda. They will play Radnički Niš in the league before travelling to Prague.

Aleksandar Stanojevic’s charges played two games in the preparatory period. They won 2:1 against GFK Tikvesh from North Macedonia and lost 0:1 against Başakşehir from Turkey. Partizan will have a dress rehearsal against Georgian champion Dinamo Batumi.

Big signing for Partizan

Adam Hložek and co. will have a slightly difficult job against Partizan Belgrade. Ljobomir Fejsa has returned to Partizan!

He won them both in Partizan’s jersey and during his foreign stints at Olympiakos and Benfica. Fejsa also has 25 starts for the Serbian national team.

Anyway, the question is in what form the Serbian midfielder will return, and whether he will be able to prepare for Sparta in a fit condition. He played his last live game in the summer of 2021.

Sources: FK Partizan, Livesport, Transfermarkt, Fejsa_Fan