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UEFA Champions LeagueChampions League

Slavia Praha v Villarreal — UEFA Champions League

London ·

Live on TNT Sports or Prime Video · UK

Sinobo Stadium
SLPSlavia PrahaClub page
VILVillarrealClub page
Squad value€111.2m
Squad value€368.1m
Key playerStepan Chaloupek
Key playerAlberto Moleiro
Head coachJindrich Trpisovsky
Head coachIñigo Pérez

How they play

Preview from .
SLP

Sabah's coach on Slavia: the moment they win the ball it goes straight forward, where their attackers are already waiting.

Source sport.ceskatelevize.cz · 12 Oct 2026
“To znamená, že jakmile získají míč, balon jde okamžitě nahoru, kde jsou hráči připraveni útočit.”

That means that as soon as they win the ball, it goes straight forward, where players are ready to attack. our translation

Read it at sport.ceskatelevize.cz

SLP

They defend man-to-man all over the pitch. Whoever you are, someone is going with you.

Source iSport.cz, Jiří Fejgl · 1 Sep 2026
“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

Read it at iSport.cz

SLP

In the derby they picked four centre-backs and simply man-marked the dangerous players out of the game.

Source iSport.cz, Jiří Fejgl · 1 Sep 2026
“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

Read it at iSport.cz

VIL

Iñigo Pérez presses high even against the biggest sides, knowing it leaves space behind his defence to be attacked.

Source Actualidad Castellón · 8 Oct 2026
“Imagino un partido en que podemos presionar alto, sabiendo que ellos buscarán atacar la espalda.”

I imagine a game in which we can press high, knowing they will look to attack the space behind us. our translation

Read it at Actualidad Castellón

VIL

Villarreal defend high enough that their right-back has a lot of grass behind him; Alex Freeman won the place because he has the pace to cover it.

Source FútbolFantasy · 21 Sep 2026
“La oportunidad de Alex Freeman fue creciendo conforme Íñigo comprobó lo útil que podía resultar su velocidad para defender muchos metros a la espalda.”

Alex Freeman's chance grew as Íñigo saw how useful his pace could be for defending a lot of space behind him. our translation

Read it at FútbolFantasy

VIL

Unlike his Rayo side, this Villarreal try to control games by keeping the ball.

Source Asier Huebra · 17 Sep 2026
“Sorprendentes intenciones si uno vio al Rayo la temporada pasada, por la sorpresiva sorpresa de intentar controlar el partido desde el balón y no desde el juego sin él.”

Read it at Asier Huebra