The new season of the Super League of small football starts on Monday

The super league fast is over. On Monday, the national competition of small football will start again, with Vikings Brno, MF Blanensko, Rytíři Plzeň and Hanspaulka Praha. However, these are not the names of the new teams, only the existing Superliga participants have changed or modified their official names.

Also this year’s edition will offer duels of twelve teams divided into western and eastern groups. The top four from each will advance to the quarter-finals, followed by the semi-finals and the winner of the competition will again be determined by the Superfinal, which will be hosted on 24 June 2023 at the sports complex in Cesky Dub.

Let’s take a look at the duels that await us in the first round of the new Superliga season.

GROUP EAST

Olomouc Mighty Ducks vs. Vikings Brno, Monday 19:00

Match of the round. After three titles in a row, the Brno team had to bow down to Staropramen Praha in June, to whom they lost 2:3 after penalty kicks in the Superfinal. However, coach Zdeněk Táborský’s charges, with a number of national team players and a new nickname of Vikings, take nothing but a fight for the title.

Their readiness will be tested in Hněvotín by the home team Mocní kačeři Olomouc, who fell in the quarter-finals last season to the later winners. A year ago, in the first round, the Hanaks surprised the favourite, Brno made up a three-goal deficit and won 5:4 on penalties. In the rematch in Hněvotín, the South Moravians outclassed the home team 10:4.

Jihlava – MF Baník Ostrava, Monday 19::30

The players of Jihlava experienced a big disappointment in the last edition of the Superleague of small football. They entered the season as the defending silver medalists, but they won only three of their ten regular season matches and did not advance to the play-offs.

Ostrava’s Baník was third in the eastern group, but in the quarter-final double-header they were eliminated only after a penalty shootout with Koráb Praha. In last year’s edition, Jihlava won 5-1 at home, but lost in the rematch in Ostrava 3-4 after penalty kicks.

Pamako Pardubice – MF Blanensko, Monday 19::30

The team of Pardubice coach Miroslav Kaluza, filled with talented youth, did not fulfil its potential last season and finished last in the Eastern Group table. In the new season, the youngsters, who defend, for example, the club colours of the last two Czech National Cup winners, want to make it at least to the knockout fights.

However, they are up against a pumped-up team of coach and captain Ondrej Padera, who unexpectedly crashed out in the quarter-finals against Most. Blanensko dominated both last season, 7:4 at home and 8:5 in Pardubice.

GROUP WEST

Partyzan Příbram – Hanspaulka Praha, Tuesday 19::30

The rivals from the centre of Bohemia kick off the programme of the western group of the Superliga of small football on Tuesday. In what frame of mind will the defending champions, who now have the legendary Hanspaulka in their name, enter the new season?

Although Příbram fell out with Brno in the quarter-finals, they proved their strength at home last season. However, the Prague team is good at Partyzan, they celebrated a 2:0 triumph at home last season and won 7:2 in Příbram.

Wolves Kolín – Most, Tuesday 19::30

Kolín scored a single win in ten games last season, but the Wolves showed improvement in the spring, which they want to convince their fans and opponents in the new edition of the national competition.

Most finished in fourth place overall after failing to qualify for the semi-final rematch with Staropramen Prague. Most has a better record in the duels between the two rivals on Tuesday. A year ago, it won 5:0 by default, and in the rematch it crushed Kolín 11:4.

Rytíři Plzeň – SC Koráb Praha, Tuesday 20::00

Just like Kolín, the players of Plzeň also won only one game last season and did not qualify for the play-offs. Now they want to repair their reputation and they have chosen a new name – Knights.

Their strength will be tested by last year’s bronze medal winning team Koráb Praha, who fell to Brno in the semi-finals. Both duels last season were better for Koráb, who won 3:1 at home and enjoyed a 4:0 win in Pilsen in the spring.