Slavia Prague and Athletic Bilbao Endure Goalless Draw in Champions League Clash

Slavia Prague and Athletic Bilbao faced off in a fiercely contested match during the fifth round of the UEFA Champions League, which ended in a goalless draw. This encounter was markedly different from their previous meeting in the UEFA Europa League last year, where Slavia dominated but ultimately lost at San Mamés. Following the match, Slavia’s coach, Jindřich Trpišovský, shared insights from his conversation with Athletic’s coach, Ernesto Valverde: “He mentioned that we remain the same relentless team that runs tirelessly, indicating that nothing has changed. He was pleased that they did not lose and kept pace with us. His response showcased his exceptional coaching ability in adapting to our style of play.”

Regarding the fairness of the draw, Trpišovský stated, “It was a demanding match filled with duels. The first half was quite balanced. Early on, we allowed the opponent a significant opportunity during a counterattack, but our goalkeeper Staněk saved us. For the most part, there were few chances. In the second half, we lost some control, and at one point, Staněk made several crucial saves. With our substitutions, we managed to break their pressure, cool down the game, and restore equilibrium. The opponent effectively utilized very physical players, particularly in their defensive flanks. They won many duels, and Vivian was outstanding. It was unfortunate we came close to scoring from a free kick at the end, but Athletic was closer to winning. Thus, we accept the point.”

On the performance of Athletic’s defenders, he noted, “Indeed. They played slightly differently than usual, adjusting their tactics to our style by sitting deeper defensively. In Bilbao, we surprised them, but here they made some adjustments, which had an impact. We struggled to win second balls, largely due to their players’ quality. They read the game well and occupied the right spaces. Athletic altered their structure, both in pressing and defense. We aimed to exploit set pieces, but only managed two corners. While I commend their defense, I must also highlight our own; everyone performed admirably.”

Reflecting on the team’s 18-year winless streak in Champions League matches, he remarked, “It was evident that we gave our all. Today was not the day for a victory, as the opponent played exceptionally well. We must accept that. The players put forth great effort, but it was not enough.”

As for the team’s chances of qualification, he stated, “We will continue to fight and prepare for Tottenham. As you have seen, we are up against teams of high quality. Only a perfect performance, both defensively and offensively, can lead us to victory. We are aware of the upcoming matches and will take it step by step. We need to ensure everything aligns, become more dangerous on the flanks, put more pressure on their defense, and create the typical situations we encounter in our league. However, we are up against players of great caliber. Except for the match against Inter, we have been defending well, but we need to create more threats from the sides.”

Concluding his thoughts on his conversation with Valverde, Trpišovský reiterated, “He mentioned that we are still the same relentless team, that we run constantly, and that nothing has changed. He was happy that they did not lose and remained level with us. This demonstrated his excellence as a coach, as he effectively responded to our gameplay.”