Slavia Prague vs Lens Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
Updated
Czech champions Slavia Prague begin the league phase of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League with the visit of last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up Lens.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Slavia Prague preview: Steady Slavia
Slavia Prague played in the league phase of the UEFA Champions League last season but they managed just three draws, two of them goalless against Atalanta and Athletic, with five defeats in which they conceded three or more in all five of those losses.
As ever, though, perennial champions of a domestic league in the middling countries of Europe means they have outspent everyone else in Czechia and remain the strongest team domestically – beginning this season with five wins and two draws in seven games.
Lens preview: Change in Lens
Last season, Lens challenged Paris Saint-Germain for the title but eventually finished second before the departure of manager Pierre Sage to UEFA Europa Conference League winners Crystal Palace – replaced by former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller.
Toppmoller defeated PSG in the Trophee des Champions in his opening game last month before Lens began their Ligue 1 campaign with a 5-2 hammering of Auxerre but they have since succumbed to slender defeats to Strasbourg and Lorient.
Slavia Prague team news: Issues with experience
Experienced duo Tomas Holes and Lukas Provod are among those sidelined through injury with fellow key man David Zima still a doubt for Slavia in this opener.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Markovic; Vlcek, Zima, Chaloupek; Isife, Nowak, Sadilek, Jurasek; Sturm, Ayaosi; Chory
Unavailable: Holes (Injured), Ouanda (Injured), Moses (Injured), Suleiman (Injured), Provod (Injured)
Questionable: Zima (Injured)
Lens team news: Several defensive issues
Lens head to Prague with several defensive injury issues as Maik Nawrocki, Samson Baidoo and Jhoanner Chavez remain sidelined with Saud Abdulhamid and Matthieu Udol now major doubts, too.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Risser; Antonio, Ganiou, Todibo; Skoras, Haidara, Cuisance, Udol; Thauvin; Ivanovic, Edouard
Unavailable: Nawrocki (Injured), Baidoo (Injured), Chavez (Injured)
Questionable: Abdulhamid (Injured), Udol (Injured), Titraoui (Injured)
Slavia Prague vs Lens prediction
Slavia Prague may well be improved on their European campaign from last season but it would be fairly tough for them to be worse. That said, they remained competitive at home and so will take the game to a Lens side that are reeling from defeats and have Toppmoller at the helm, who can often produce real thrillers for the neutral – albeit not necessarily effective for the team that he is in charge of. For example, his Frankfurt side last year saw 31 goals scored in eight games, notching ten but conceding 21. A fun watch for the neutral may therefore be in store here at the Fortuna Arena.
Slavia Prague vs Lens Tip: Both teams to score
