FC Zlín and 1. FC Slovácko meet on Saturday afternoon in the final round of the Czech First League relegation group. While the pressure of the relegation scrap has eased for the home side, this fixture remains a significant regional derby with plenty of pride on the line.
Zlín enter the final day already safe from the drop, sitting third in the relegation standings with 38 points. For Slovácko, the situation is more complicated. They are locked into fourth place on 30 points, meaning their focus has already shifted to the upcoming relegation play-off. With the first leg of that crucial tie scheduled for Wednesday, the visitors have some serious juggling to do.
FC Zlín Form & Analysis
Bronislav Cervenka will want his players to sign off the campaign with a performance for the home support. Zlín suffered a 2-0 defeat away at Baník Ostrava last weekend, a match heavily disrupted by Jakub Cernin receiving a red card after just 21 minutes. Playing with ten men for most of the game left them exposed, and they failed to register a single shot on target.
Cernin is suspended for this match following that red card. Cervenka is also dealing with several injuries, as Jakub Jugas and Stanislav Petruta remain long-term absentees. Stanislav Dostal, Lukas Fukala, and Adam Branecky are also expected to miss out.
Despite these absences, Zlín have been decent at home, picking up 22 of their 38 points on their own turf. Their main issue continues to be at the back. Zlín have now gone 11 consecutive matches without keeping a clean sheet. However, they usually find the net at home, and this derby represents a final chance to reward their fans.
1. FC Slovácko Form & Analysis
Roman Skuhravy has a delicate balancing act on his hands. Slovácko were beaten 3-0 at home by Mlada Boleslav last Saturday, a flat performance that showed where their priorities lie. With their place in the relegation play-off confirmed, avoiding injuries and managing player workloads is now the absolute priority.
Because the play-off first leg takes place on Wednesday, 27 May, Skuhravy is highly likely to rotate his squad. Key players are expected to be rested or given limited minutes to ensure they are fresh for the midweek fixture.
Slovácko have struggled on the road this season, winning just twice away from home and scoring only 11 goals in 17 away trips. But even with a rotated lineup, they will want to build some positive momentum after the disappointment of last weekend's heavy home defeat.
## Head-to-Head
Slovácko ran out 2-0 winners when the sides last met in November, but Zlín have historically found joy in this fixture at home, including a 2-1 victory in early 2024. Clean sheets have been hard to come by for Zlín in this matchup, as they have failed to keep a shutout against Slovácko in their last six meetings.
We Predict: Both Teams To Score
With Zlín safe and Slovácko resting players ahead of their play-off, this final-day fixture should be played with the handbrake off. Zlín have a terrible defensive record but scoring goals at home has rarely been an issue for them.
Slovácko will rotate, but the players coming into the side will be eager to prove they deserve a starting spot for the play-offs next week. Given Zlín’s run of 11 games without a clean sheet and Slovácko’s need to find some attacking rhythm, goals at both ends look highly likely.
Both Teams To Score is 1.7023. A 2-1 victory for the home side looks a strong possibility as Zlín look to finish their season on a high.
