Slavia Prague Advances in Youth League Despite Crushing Defeat to Tottenham
Despite suffering a resounding 9-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur in London, Slavia Prague’s under-19 team has secured a place in the knockout stage of the Youth League. The team’s progression hinged on a dramatic late victory by Barcelona over Frankfurt, a result that ultimately sealed their fate.
Slavia Prague faced a difficult final match in the sixth round of the competition, falling victim to a dominant performance by Tottenham. Luca Williams-Barnett spearheaded the attack with a remarkable five goals, while Tynan Thompson added a hat trick. Slavia’s lone goal came from Samuel Pikolon, offering a small consolation in an otherwise challenging match.
The defeat marks only the second time in six rounds that the “Red and Whites” have failed to find the back of the net. Their most significant loss of the league phase occurred at the training center of “Kohútov,” though the specifics of that match were not detailed. Tottenham’s victory secured their promotion with 12 points.
Slavia’s advancement was far from certain, requiring favorable results from other matches. A pivotal moment came in the contest between Barcelona and Frankfurt. According to reports, the German side led 3-1 with only ten minutes remaining, threatening to overtake Slavia in the standings. However, a stunning comeback saw Barcelona snatch a 4-3 victory with a goal scored in the fourth minute of stoppage time, effectively guaranteeing Slavia’s qualification.
Currently sitting in 18th place, Slavia Prague can now confidently look ahead to the elimination phase, as only four teams are capable of surpassing them on Wednesday.
Throughout the league phase, coach Jaroslav Machač’s squad demonstrated their capabilities with impressive wins over Bodö/Glimt and Arsenal, both by a score of 5-1. They also secured a 2-2 draw against Inter Milan and a 3-3 draw at home against Bilbao. However, the London encounter proved to be a significant setback. The team conceded three goals in the first half, with Pikolon’s goal representing their first shot on target. The second half saw Tottenham further extend their lead, with Williams-Barnett, a 17-year-old touted as one of England’s brightest footballing talents, scoring five goals.
The Youth League mirrors the format of the prestigious Champions League, operating under a new system with 36 clubs in a single table. Unlike the senior competition’s eight rounds, the youth league consists of six. A total of 22 teams will progress to the elimination phase. The Slovak team MŠK Žilina is also participating in this year’s Youth League.
