Slavia seek strong opening salvo

Sleepy starts
Slavia have leaked goals inside the opening six minutes of five matches this season. On three occasions they recovered to win, but Jarolím wants to avoid a repeat, saying: "It's impossible to turn games again and again." Midfielder Martin Latka concurred: "It's exhausting. I hope we avoid an early goal on Thursday."

Gedeon absent
Midfielder Matej Krajcik returns to the Slavia side after missing Monday's Czech league defeat at 1. FC Brno through suspension. Krajcik and Dušan Švento, both called up for Slovakia's FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off against Spain, should feature, yet Slavia are without midfielder Patrik Gedeon as he recovers from a long-term knee problem.

Iliev unfit
Meanwhile, CSKA Sofia, beaten 1-0 by Hamburger SV on Matchday 1, are missing defender Valentin Iliev. The Bulgarian international sustained an ankle injury during Saturday's 3-0 league victory against PFC Cherno More Varna and has no chance of recovering. "I need at least two or three weeks' rest. It will be very hard to watch from the stands," he said.

Hdiouad sidelined
CSKA have also lost Moroccan midfielder Mourad Hdiouad to a thigh injury and he may be sidelined till the new year. However, coach Miodrag Ješić remains positive, saying: "We will be without two very important players and will try to compensate for that. We are in good spirits and are all looking forward to the game."