Servette – Plzen : Preview & Prediction
After finishing third in their Europa League group, Servette came through a tough UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) play-off tie against Ludogorets. Those two games have been part of an encouraging six-game unbeaten run (G5, E1), as René Weiler’s men find themselves just one point behind leaders Young Boys in the Swiss Super League ahead of their first Round of 16 clash in a modern European format.
Servette’s next opponents are Viktoria Plzeň, the second Czech club they face after suffering a pair of multi-goal defeats to Slavia Prague in the Europa League. However, the Swiss side will be confident of putting in a good performance at the Stade de Genève, where they are unbeaten in 14 matches (G10, E4) in all competitions.
After losing all six of their UEFA Champions League group stage matches last season, Plzeň have achieved better results in the UECL this campaign, winning all six of their group stage matches to advance to the knockout stage. Miroslav Koubek’s men have looked imperious in European action this year, winning 11 of their 12 matches so far, including those in the preliminary qualifying round (E1).
Although their league title hopes have all but disappeared, Plzeň still have a chance for a memorable cup double and should come into this clash with plenty of confidence, having not lost since mid-November (G10, E2). They also scored six goals in two games in their only previous meetings against Swiss opponents (G1, E1) — it was against Lugano in the Europa League group stage on their way to the round of 16 in the 2017/18 season.
Players to watch: Interestingly, Servette have kept a clean sheet in each of the last four games in which Timothé Cognat scored or assisted (G3, A1). Meanwhile, Plzeň’s Pavel Šulc has scored five goals in his last three games, three of them between the 45th and 50th minutes.
Key stat: Both teams have scored before halftime in just one of Servette’s last 17 matches.
Servette – Plzen : Betting Tips
DRAW Odds: 3.25
