FC Viktoria Plzeň travelled to the first match of the Europa League knockout stage play-off double-header, where they took on Hungarian champions Ferencvárosi TC. The match ended 1-0 for the home team. Next week we will have a rematch in Doosan Arena, where we will fight for the next stage.

More than a thousand fans came to Budapest to support Viktoria, and they could be heard in the crowded Groupama Arena right from the opening minutes. They contributed to the excellent atmosphere of the match.

Right in the 8th minute, our goalkeeper Martin Jedlička made a great save and snuffed out the home team´s attempt for a corner. The home team continued to press the attack in the following minutes, but the Victorian defence repelled their attempts, with another good save by Jedlička in the 21st minute. Unfortunately, two minutes later he was short on Abu Fani´s attempt, which ended up in the net and Ferencvárosi TC went ahead.

In the 27th minute, Svetozar Markovic drew a beautiful cross to Cadu, who sent the ball into the box and Matej Vydra´s attempt ended just above the home goal. Pavel Šulc also had an interesting chance after a nice combination, but the defence stopped the attempt.

Lukáš Kalvach played an interesting standard in the 37th minute, Matěj Vydra´s header was headed for a corner. After that, Sampson Dweh managed to get his head in the whitewash, but the home goalkeeper made a quick save against his attempt. Viktoria were very dangerous in these minutes, Milan Havel was just a few centimetres short of the goal to push through Prince Adua´s pass. At the end of the first half, the home side had an interesting chance after a corner, but nothing changed before the team went into the box.

Neither Miroslav Koubek nor Robbie Keane made any changes for the second half and so it was an identical starting eleven. And the first chance didn´t take long to come - in the 49th minute Lukáš Červ shot from distance, his attempt flew just over the crossbar.

The Victorians came close to equalising moments later when a Milan Havel pass was almost knocked into his own net by a home defender. In the end, it was a corner kick. In the 56th minute, our coach made his first substitution. Milan Havel was replaced by Amar Memić, making his European debut.

Viktoria dominated this phase and pushed Ferencvárosi TC in its half. In the 66th minute, the home goalkeeper had to intervene again against an attempt by Lukáš Červ! Then another substitute came on, this time Rafiu Durosinmi, who replaced Matej Vydra. Although Viktorka pressed the home team at the end of the match, they were unable to score. The first match of the double-header with Ferencváros ended 1-0 for the Hungarian team. Next week we will have a rematch, in which we will fight for the reversal of the unfavourable result and qualification to the Europa League eighth round.