Slavia Prague fell 2–0 to Sabah Baku at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on Tuesday, extending their winless streak in the UEFA Champions League to 21 matches, Seznam Zprávy reported.
The Czech domestic leaders struggled to find their rhythm in a sparse arena featuring heavy security and a running athletics track. Kaheem Parris broke the deadlock in the 49th minute for the Azerbaijani hosts, before Joy-Lance Mickels sealed the victory in the 88th minute following a defensive mix-up involving goalkeeper Jakub Markovič and defender David Moses.
Baku Defeat Extends Slavia’s Long Champions League Drought
Slavia’s last victory in Europe’s premier club competition dates back to September 2007, when they defeated Steaua Bucharest 2–1 at the old Strahov Stadium. Tuesday’s result leaves Jindřich Trpišovský’s side on zero points after two matches in the league phase, having also failed to score during a disjointed first half where the visitors managed no threatening shots until the interval.
Pokud chceš v pohárech vyhrávat, tím spíš v Lize mistrů, tak musíš takové šance proměňovat.Slavia měla proti Sabahu 18 střel/8 na branku a xG 2,04.Nejhorší na tom ale je, pokolikáté už se tenhle problém Slavie v Evropě v posledních sezónách opakuje. pic.twitter.com/MAHRQR1uvu
Midfielder Lukáš Provod expressed bewilderment over the team’s slow start, noting that no player reached their expected performance ceiling. Slavia generated an expected goals (xG) tally of 2.04 through 18 total shots, but failed to convert their opportunities, continuing a trend of European frustration that includes a 4–1 defeat to Cypriot side Pafos earlier in the year.
The result also makes Slavia the first Czech club to lose a match against an Azerbaijani opponent in European competitions, halting a run of twelve previous encounters without a defeat.
Empty Stands and Tight Security at the Olympic Stadium
Reporting from the venue, Sport.cz noted that the cavernous Olympic Stadium—which hosted the 2019 UEFA Europa League final and a UEFA Euro 2020 quarterfinal—was barely filled, with crowd estimates falling short of official figures. Extended security checks involving military personnel stationed around the perimeter contributed to a subdued pre-match atmosphere.
Sabah Baku, founded nine years ago, recorded a victory. The Azerbaijani side entered the league phase with the lowest club coefficient among all 36 participating teams, yet capitalized on Slavia’s defensive errors to secure the points.
Financial Stakes and Upcoming Fixtures in Turkey
Under the current tournament structure, clubs earn special rewards for victories and draws, leaving Slavia empty-handed financially after two rounds of fixtures. Specifically, the tournament distributes financial bonuses for victories and draws. Seznam analysis highlighted that the Prague club is now approaching the tournament record for winless matches, currently held by Romanian side FCSB at 23 games.
Slavia will attempt to reverse their fortunes next week when they travel to Istanbul to face Turkish side Fenerbahçe. Trpišovský’s squad remains at the top of the Czech First League, but their continental struggles continue to raise questions about their ability to convert domestic dominance into European success.
Social Media Backlash Involving Czech Biathlete Michal Krčmář
The defeat and subsequent defensive errors triggered intense reactions online, drawing comments from prominent Czech biathlete Michal Krčmář. Following the match, Krčmář posted a comparison on the social media platform X referencing a previous domestic derby where Sparta defender Matěj Ryneš slipped, accompanied by the caption Karma je zdarma
to mock Slavia supporters who had previously taunted rival fans.
The post quickly generated widespread criticism from disgruntled Slavia supporters, who flooded his profile with negative remarks referencing his shooting performances and past commentary regarding football player Mick van Buren. While defending his right to mirror supporters’ behavior, Krčmář maintained that he generally condemns the public ridicule of athletes.
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