Defending champions Sparta will start the new first league season on the weekend of July 20 or 21 at home against Pardubice. Acting vice-champion Slavia will play in the Slovácko stadium in the first round, the only newcomer to the top competition, Dukla, will welcome Plzeň to begin with. The autumn derby of Prague “S” will take place at the beginning of October in the 11th round in Eden. It was decided by today’s draw in Prague at the league board of clubs.
The new league season will start just one week after the European Championship final. As in the last season, the autumn part will have 19 rounds and this time it will end on Sunday, December 15. The spring phase will start on February 1, i.e. a weekend earlier than last year. The basic part will culminate on the 30th around the 19th of April, followed again by a five-round superstructure part.
Two rounds after the Prague derby, on the last weekend of October, Sparta will present itself in another big game in Pilsen. On the other hand, the West Bohemians will play away against Slavia in the fall, in the 9th round on September 21 or 22. The spring Prague derby is on the program at the beginning of March in the 25th round at Letná.
The extension will be played in the Czech league for the sixth time. The six best clubs after the regular season will appear in the group for the title, the six worst in the group for salvation and four teams will be waiting for the group for Europe. Just like in previous seasons, only the worst team in the competition will be relegated, the 14th and 15th teams will face a playoff.
In the coming season, Sparta will strive for the third title in a row, in the past year they also won the double after triumphing in the domestic cup. Dukla replaced Zlín as the winner of the second league in the top competition, which was the only one relegated in the spring.
Program of the 1st circle:
Sparta Prague – Pardubice, Karviná – Liberec, České Budějovice – Olomouc, Slovácko – Slavia Prague, Hradec Králové – Teplice, Jablonec – Mladá Boleslav, Dukla Prague – Pilsen, Bohemians Prague 1905 – Ostrava.
