HET League, Round 17: AC Sparta Praha vs. FC Slovan Liberec 2:0

Slovan travelled to Prague to play the opening match after winter break against Sparta Prague. Slovan played the first competitive match under new head coach David Holoubek who replaced Jindřich Trpišovský. Holoubek spent previous 13 seasons in Sparta so it has been very interesting debut for him and he has received a warm welcome from home supporters.

For this match Holoubek had to build his first starting line-up in new role without injured Graiciar and Ševčík, while Pulkrab and Havelka could not played due to agreement with Sparta (both are playing for Slovan on loan from team of our today's opponent).

Sparta presented several new faces in the squad and the most expensive player in the history of Czech league, Nicolae Stanciu, scored the opening goal in the fifth minute as Slovan failed to clear Frýdek's cross and Stanciu scored from the 18 meters. The early goal was the only dangerous action of the first half on both sides of the field.

After sides change Slovan played very well in the defense and even they had more possession than Sparta, but it took another 30 minutes for Slovan to reach any chance for scoring. Fifteen minutes to go Slovan even had two giant chances in two minutes! In the first one Bosančić received good pass from Coufal to the box, but shot right to the home goalkeeper Niță. One minute later Bosančić crossed from the left wing and Coufal was very close to score, but he did not hit the ball well and Frýdek saved the goal with his goal-line clearance. In the last ten minutes Slovan still had more possession than Sparta, but could not reach any goal chance and in the last minute of the stoppage time home striker David Lafata was fouled by Taras Karachaba in the box and from the penalty spot Guélor Kanga scored the second goal of home team so Sparta have beaten Liberec 2:0.