FC Viktoria Plzeň travels to Norway this week seeking to secure their first points of the current UEFA Europa League campaign. Following three defeats, the Czech side aims to turn its season around in Thursday’s match against Lillestrøm, a team that has managed only one point in the tournament so far—a draw against Sparta Prague.
Václav Hanzlík, a spokesperson for the Plzeň club, confirmed that the match will be broadcast on the Sport 1 television channel. The team departed for Norway on a flight filled largely with traveling supporters, a few hundred of whom are expected to attend the match to support the squad.
Sojka expects a difficult challenge in Norway
Despite the opponent’s current standing in the group, midfielder Alexandr Sojka emphasized that the team is preparing for a rigorous test. “I believe this could be the match from which we bounce back,” Sojka said. “The remaining schedule is not easy at all, but we will still fight for progress.”
Sojka noted that the Europa League features no weak opponents, pointing specifically to the tactical threats posed by the Norwegian side. “Lillestrøm is a team that is not afraid to play. They have a good midfield and skillful wingers, so we have to watch them closely,” he added.
Reporting from the team’s preparation
Coverage of the match extends beyond the 90 minutes on the pitch. A reporter for Deník is on-site in Norway, providing updates from the team’s pre-match training sessions. The reporting includes an interview with coach Radoslav Kováč and reflections from Martin Fillo, a product of the Plzeň youth system who spent three years playing in Norway.
Focus shifts to Sunday’s match against Sparta
Following the conclusion of Thursday’s European fixture, the club’s attention will immediately turn to the domestic schedule. Plzeň is set to host Sparta Prague on Sunday in a marquee matchup of the 14th round of the Chance Liga. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. local time at the Doosan Arena.
Fans attending the Sunday match in Plzeň can expect a special program preceding the kickoff, which includes an exhibition of military technology in the Štruncovy Sady park area.
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