Slovan leave large gap to fill

The Slovakian Superleague will have an unfamiliar look when the season kicks off on Saturday - for the first time since the break-up of Czechoslovakia, ŠK Slovan Bratislava will not be among the country's elite.

Slovan down
Slovan's relegation last term stunned the nation, and fans are still coming to terms with the prospect of a top flight not featuring Slovakia's traditionally top club. Slovan have won four titles since the championship was established in 1993, two more than 1. FC Košice who have also been forced to adapt to new surroundings following their relegation two seasons ago.

New order
With the mighty fallen, a new order has emerged, spearheaded by MŠK Žilina who kick off as favourites to claim a fourth straight title. It was Czech coach Ladislav Jurkemik who laid the foundations for that success in his first spell at the club three years ago, and his return in March should ensure Žilina do not veer from their winning ways.

New signings
Jurkemik has returned to a well-run, financially-sound club with arguably still the strongest squad in the league, one bolstered by a string of new signings including exciting prospects Adam Nemec and Peter Kiška, from FK ZTS Dubnica, who should safeguard the club's future as well as make their mark this season.

Departures
Dubnica have also lost Slovakian international midfield player Juraj Dovicovic to Djurgårdens IF, while one notable departure from Žilina is Slovakian international Radoslav Zabavník who has joined PFC CSKA Sofia.

Artmedia active
Slovakian Cup holders Artmedia have also been active on the transfer front, signing, among others, the promising young striker Filip Šebo from Inter, Rastislav Kostka and Ladislav Benèík from 1. FC Synot, and defensive midfield player Róbert Novák from FK Marila Príbram.

Dinamo test
Žilina picked up where they left off with a 2-1 victory over Artmedia in the Slovakian Super Cup last Sunday, but they will not start the defence of their title this weekend as they continue preparations for their UEFA Champions League second qualifying round tie at home to Romanian champions FC Dinamo Bucuresti on 28 July.

Euro vision
Also competing on two fronts are Artmedia and Dukla Banská Bystrica who kicked off their UEFA Cup qualifying campaign with a 3-0 first-leg victory over Azerbaijan's FK Karabakh. FC Spartak Trnava could yet join them from the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

All change
Trnava are one of seven clubs with new coaches, with former MFK Ružomberok coach Jozef Vukušiè taking the helm, while Jozef Barmoš returns to Inter. Only Jurkemik at Žilina, Ladislav Molnár at league runners-up Dukla, and Jozef Jankech at Dubnica have kept their jobs.

Sobota hope
Perhaps the man with the hardest task ahead is Peter Zelenský whose provincial FC Rimavská Sobota side have replaced Slovan in the top flight. The southern team return to the Superleague for the first time in five years, but it is doubtful that Zelenský has the resources to keep them there. Slovan fans will be watching his progress with interest.