Sparta eye double delight

By Martin Gregor

Czech Republic champions AC Sparta Praha have set themselves an ambitious target for the coming season, aiming to retain their title, win back the Czech Cup and enjoy a lengthy UEFA Champions League campaign.

Double desire
"We would like to win the Czech 'double' and go through from our Champions League group, or at least finish third and continue in the UEFA Cup," said club vice president Daniel Kretínsky in a press conference on Thursday.

New-look defence
Sparta begin their campaign away to promoted FC Viktoria Plzeň with a host of new players and one major absentee, striker Tomáš Jun, now plying his trade at Trabzonspor in Turkey. Summer arrivals Zdenek Pospech, Petr Lukáš and Adam Petrous should all slot into a defence in which only left-back Michal Kadlec remains from last season. The pressure is on ex-Slovan Liberec man Miroslav Slepicka, dubbed 'the new Milan Baroš', to fill Jun's boots.

Slavia opener
Across town, SK Slavia Praha are plotting to bring down their big-shot neighbours. They play the season opener on Friday evening against FC Vysocina Jihlava, but also have one eye on next week's Champions League third qualifying round tie against RSC Anderlecht, in which they will try to reach the group phase at the fifth attempt.

Czech legends depart
Slavia wave goodbye to two legendary figures, Pavel Kuka and Radek Bejbl, who were part of the Czech Republic side that reached the final of EURO '96™. The 37-year-old Kuka retires after a fine career in which he scored 29 times in 87 internationals and spent two spells at Slavia totaling ten years. Bejbl, 32, joins SK Rapid Wien, also ending his second stint at the club.

Teplice: 'Same again'
FK Teplice sprung a surprise with third place last season and will enter the UEFA Cup in the second qualifying round against FC MTZ-RIPO Minsk of Belarus, one stage before Czech Cup holders FC Baník Ostrava. Teplice are confident of a repeat after holding onto their major stars and picking up some this summer. "Considering we came third last season, we're not aiming to end up in eighth this season," said coach Vlastislav Mareček.

Painful exodus
FC Slovan Liberec not only went out of the UEFA Intertoto Cup in the second round on away goals to Roda JC - while SK Sigma Olomouc reached the semi-finals - but also endured a painful mass summer exodus after their attractive brand of football caught the eye of clubs at home and abroad. Slepicka, Lukás and Karol Kisel have gone to Sparta, while Czech international Jan Polák was snapped up by 1. FC Nürnberg and Michal Pospíšil moved to Heart of Midlothian FC.

Top flight debutants
Two teams make their debut in the top flight, Vysocina Jihlava and FK SIAD Most, while FC Viktoria Plzen have replaced FK Drnovice, who withdrew from the first division because of financial difficulties.