line-ups

FC Viktoria Plzeň

Wiegele – Pališčák, Vavro, Spáčil (46. Dweh), Souaré – Memić (64. Gabriel), Hrošovský (C) (72. Červ), Pirgić, Sojka – Višinský (46. Lawal), Adu (64. Faal).

Royale Union Saint-Gilloise

Koffi – Patris, Havenaar, M. Sylla, Kričfaluši (75. Chibani) – Zeneli, Schoofs (C), Olaru (82. Aquino) – Mofokeng (63. Hurtevent), Biondic (63. K. Rodríguez), G. Smith (63. De Roeve).

statistics

Goals: 18. Mofokeng (M. Sylla), 43. Biondic (Patris), 59. Kričfaluši (Zeneli).

Yellow cards: 45. Hrošovský (PLZ), 60. Pirgić (PLZ) – 16. Kričfaluši (GIL), 42. Biondic (GIL)

Red cards:

Referees: Frid – Hassan, Koltunoff (ISR).

Shots on goal: 5:13

Shots off target: 5:6

Corners: 5:1

Offside: 0:3

Fouls: 13:11

Attendance: 8211

Viktoria began their Europa League league phase campaign with a home clash against Belgian side Union SG. The visitors scored three times at the Doosan Arena to claim a 3–0 victory.

The visitors from Belgium kicked off the opening match of this season’s league phase. Union made an energetic start, looking to play long balls in behind the defence, but Viktoria initially managed to deal with their runs. The Belgian side’s aggressive and physical style was also evident from the opening minutes.

In the 12th minute, Wiegele produced a confident save to deny one of the visitors’ chances. A minute later, the Viktoria goalkeeper was called into action again, but parried the ball into a dangerous area. Vavro tracked back just in time and cleared it to safety.

However, Union punished Viktoria with their first break behind the defence. Mofokeng latched onto a long ball, raced clear of the defenders and beat Wiegele. Viktoria threatened at the other end in the 25th minute. Memić’s initial effort was blocked by the defence before Adu fired from a tight angle, sending the ball narrowly across the penalty area and past the far post.

Union then created another opportunity, but the shot went wide. In the 37th minute, Spáčil inadvertently headed the ball straight to an opponent, but Wiegele kept Viktoria in the game with another fine save. Shortly afterwards, the visitors struck for a second time. Biondić made a run in behind the defence, received a perfectly weighted pass and beat the Viktoria goalkeeper. Union therefore went into the break with a two-goal lead, leaving Viktoria with work to do in the second half.

Union also began the second half brightly. The visitors’ physical approach caused Viktoria problems, and the Belgian side struck again in the 59th minute. Kričfaluši rose to meet a corner and powered the ball past Wiegele.

Viktoria threatened in the 73rd minute, but Faal headed wide. Vavro then tried to surprise the visiting goalkeeper with a long-range effort, but his shot went straight into the keeper’s hands. Union did not push forward in the closing stages, comfortably protected their three-goal lead and left Plzeň with all three points in the league phase standings.

Highlights