SABSabah FKClub page
SLPSlavia PrahaClub page
Squad value€19m
Squad value€111.2m
Key playerTymoteusz Puchacz
Key playerStepan Chaloupek
Head coachValdas Dambrauskas
Head coachJindrich Trpisovsky
Dambrauskas has Sabah pressing high even in Europe, and this season's Slavia build long passing moves instead of hitting it long. Slavia's patience runs straight into Sabah's press.
“Yıllarca Avrupa maçlarında kabuğuna çekilerek oynamaya alışkın bir futbol kültürünü yerle bir edip; cesur, önde basan ve hücumu düşünen dominant bir kimlik inşa etti.”He tore down a football culture used to retreating into its shell in European matches for years, and built a brave, dominant identity that presses high and thinks about attacking. our translation
Milli Gazete, Alim Haşimoğlu, 25 Aug 2026
“Slavia měla ohromných 15 sekvencí s alespoň 10 pasy, což bylo nejen opět nejvíc ze všech, nýbrž také číslo, kterému se v minulé sezoně ani nepřiblížila.”Slavia had a huge 15 sequences of at least 10 passes, not only the most of anyone again but a number they did not come close to last season. our translation
Dambrauskas has Sabah pressing high even in Europe, and Slavia run you into the ground and go the moment they win it. The ball should keep changing hands close to both goals.
“Yıllarca Avrupa maçlarında kabuğuna çekilerek oynamaya alışkın bir futbol kültürünü yerle bir edip; cesur, önde basan ve hücumu düşünen dominant bir kimlik inşa etti.”He tore down a football culture used to retreating into its shell in European matches for years, and built a brave, dominant identity that presses high and thinks about attacking. our translation
Milli Gazete, Alim Haşimoğlu, 25 Aug 2026
“Trpišovského Slavia hraje styl založený na opakovaném presinku, vysoké intenzitě bez míče a rychlých přechodech.”Trpišovský's Slavia play a style built on repeated pressing, high intensity without the ball and quick transitions. our translation
Sabah's patient passing out of defence is exactly what Slavia feed on. Win the ball off Sabah and Slavia go straight away.
“In possession, Sabah look to control the game through patient build-up play, using rotations to create space and find players between the lines.”“Trpišovského Slavia hraje styl založený na opakovaném presinku, vysoké intenzitě bez míče a rychlých přechodech.”Trpišovský's Slavia play a style built on repeated pressing, high intensity without the ball and quick transitions. our translation
Slavia Praha's squad is valued at €111.2m, Sabah FK's at €19m: about six times as much. Gaps like that tend to settle games rather than make contests.
On paper this is a mismatch: Slavia's squad is worth about six times Sabah's, and they are clear favourites. But Dambrauskas does not let Sabah sit back, even in Europe: they press high and pass their way out patiently. That patience is exactly what Slavia feed on: they mark man for man right up near halfway, and the moment they win it they go. If Sabah are to score, a corner is their likeliest route.
“Yıllarca Avrupa maçlarında kabuğuna çekilerek oynamaya alışkın bir futbol kültürünü yerle bir edip; cesur, önde basan ve hücumu düşünen dominant bir kimlik inşa etti.”He tore down a football culture used to retreating into its shell in European matches for years, and built a brave, dominant identity that presses high and thinks about attacking. our translation
Milli Gazete, Alim Haşimoğlu, 25 Aug 2026
“In possession, Sabah look to control the game through patient build-up play, using rotations to create space and find players between the lines.”“Trpišovského Slavia hraje styl založený na opakovaném presinku, vysoké intenzitě bez míče a rychlých přechodech.”Trpišovský's Slavia play a style built on repeated pressing, high intensity without the ball and quick transitions. our translation
“Zároveň 37 defenzivních akcí do 40 metrů od branky soupeře naznačily, že obhájce titulu bude opět hrát vysokou obranu, a to stylem jeden na jednoho. Slovácko mělo s tímto přístupem obrovský problém a ztrácelo míče. Grafika pak krásně vykresluje průměrné pozice kontaktů s míčem slávistických hráčů – dokonce celá obrana je téměř u půlící čáry.”At the same time, 37 defensive actions within 40 metres of the opponent's goal suggested the champions will again defend high, man to man. Slovácko had huge trouble with this and kept losing the ball. The graphic shows the average positions of Slavia's touches: the whole defence is almost on the halfway line. our translation
“Without the ball, they are a physically strong team who are difficult to break down, while their aerial presence makes them a threat from attacking set pieces.”They defend man-to-man all over the pitch. Whoever you are, someone is going with you.
“Neviděl jsem žádný jiný tým hrát takovým způsobem v defenzivě. Ať už je to pod vysokým tlakem, nebo v bloku. Prostě brání jeden na jednoho.”I haven't seen any other team defend like that. Whether it's pressing high or sitting in a block. They simply defend one-on-one. our translation
In the derby they picked four centre-backs and simply man-marked the dangerous players out of the game.
“Prostě se rozhodli hrát se čtyřmi stopery a pokrýt naše ofenzivní hráče”They simply decided to play with four centre-backs and cover our attacking players our translation