Banik Ostrava host Pardubice in Czech First League action on Saturday afternoon. The sides could scarcely be in more opposing form, with Banik winning every match other than their trip to top placed Slavia Prague since the winter break. Pardubice seem doomed in second bottom, failing to score a single goal in their 8 matches (7 leeague, 1 cup) since the break. The sides are familiar with each other having met in the last round of the cup in the first weekend of March, with Banik running out 2-0 winners away from home. Banik sailed into a first half 2-0 lead before using the second half to rotate and see the game out, limiting Pardu to just 2 shots on target.

Since the break, Banik's league form has been close to impeccable. They have managed 1.57 goals per game from an average xG of 1.70. They have conceded just 0.29 goals per game from an average xG concession of 0.94. 6 of their 8 games (7 league, 1 cup) have seen them keep a clean sheet, and only Slavia and Mlada Boleslav have found a way to get past them at the back. Before the international break, they got the better of a fatigued Plzen side in a 1-0 victory away from home, further cementing their claim as one of the best defences in Czechia. Only runaway leaders Slavia Prague have conceded fewer goals than Ostrava's total of 22.

This makes for bleak reading for Pardubice, who are yet to score since the winter break in Czechia. They have averaged 0.84 xG in their 7 league games, but have so far drawn a blank in every match. They have conceded at a rate of 2.14 goals per game from 1.72 xG, and Teplice, Mlada Boleslav, Sigma Olomouc, Slavia Prague and Hradec Kralove have all beaten Pardubice by at least two goals. They managed a point against a fatigued Plzen side between Europa League matches, before suffering a devastating late 1-0 loss to relegation rivals Dukla Prague at home last week. Pardubice hit the woodwork three times before conceding a soft penalty and look to have an impossible task coming back from 13 points behind Slovacko in the bid for survival.

Young Banik forward Matej Sin received his Czech debut for the national team against the Faroe Islands, while strong midfield Tomas Rigo remained on the bench for Slovakia and returned to club training on Tuesday. Jiri Boula has also been away with the Czech team but is yet to receive his national team debut. Aside from a long term injury to Ewerton, the Banik squad is in good condition and Czechia's games have been against much worse opposition. The national team breaks for the Banik squad have therefore been of minimal impact.

Pardubice had a disastrous transfer window, with forward Zlatohlavek leaving for Saturday's opponents Banik after contributing 5 goals and assists in the first half of the season. Tanko went the other way to Pardubice but is yet to register a goal or an assist in his 5 games so far. Important utility player Mares moved on to Mlada Boleslav, while young arrivals Tredl, Fila, Sancl and Rama are yet to really make an impact on the team.

Banik's rivals for second place, Sparta Prague, face a tough test against Viktoria Plzen this weekend, before Banik and Sparta meet in a shootout to take second place in the league, should Plzen not beat Sparta. Banik will therefore be in full motivation for a comfortable result over strugglers Pardubice as they look to secure an extremely lucrative second place in the Czech league and a place in the Champions League qualifiers.

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