Back in Europe after a 21-year absence, Servette aim to shake off some dire form to start positively in the Europa League on Thursday, when Slavia Prague visit Stade de Geneve.

While the Swiss side were eliminated from Champions League qualifying and have started slowly in their domestic league, Slavia are unbeaten in the Czech top flight and boast plenty of European experience.

Match preview

After many years in the doldrums - including bankruptcy in 2005 - Servette booked their return to continental competition last season, having finished Swiss Super League runners-up behind runaway champions Young Boys.

As a result, Les Grenats will now feature in the Europa League for the very first time, as it did not even exist when they last took part in UEFA competition proper - preliminaries aside - back in 2002.

Traditionally one of Switzerland's most successful clubs - with 17 national titles and seven Swiss cups - the Romandy outfit were promoted back to the Super League four years ago, and after a period of consolidation, former boss Alain Geiger led them to a second-place finish in May.

Former Al Ahly coach Rene Weiler - who led Anderlecht to the Europa League quarter-finals in 2017, when they were eliminated by eventual winners Manchester United - has since taken the reins at Stade de Geneve.

However, Weiler - a defender for the club during his playing days - has endured a tough start to his tenure, as Servette have won just two of their last 11 matches (excluding extra time) - both against lower-league opponents in the Swiss Cup.

They sit eighth in the early Super League standings, having also crashed out of Champions League contention by losing 3-2 on aggregate to Rangers last month, so confidence may now be starting to ebb away.

This week's Group G clash will see Slavia Prague encounter Servette for the first time since 2001, when they met in the UEFA Cup - the Swiss side won 2-1 on aggregate.

Playing their first competitive fixture in Switzerland since that first-round exit 22 years ago, Slavia will aim to make their greater European experience pay on Thursday evening, as a group also featuring Moldovan champions Sheriff Tiraspol and Serie A heavyweights Roma could prove tough to navigate.

To reach this stage, the Czech club came through qualifying, in which they knocked out two Ukrainian sides, Dnipro-1 and Zorya Luhansk, in the third round and playoff round respectively.

Jindrich Trpisovsky's men finished second in the Czech First League last season - when they also came third in their Europa Conference League group - and after winning seven of their first eight games this term, they once more sit on the shoulder of league leaders Sparta Prague.

While Servette are newcomers to the competition, Slavia are now set for their fifth Europa League participation - they made the knockout phase on their two most recent attempts: 2018-19 and 2020-21. Therefore, ahead of Sunday's Prague derby, they may expect a successful start to their Group G campaign.

Team News

Summer signing Alexander Lyng joined Keigo Tsunemoto and Theo Magnin in missing Servette's weekend cup win over Bulle due to injury, and the trio are set to be sidelined again on Thursday evening.

Long-awaited comebacks for goalkeeper Jeremy Frick and Bosnian winger Miroslav Stevanovic have come just in time, though, as both recently returned to full training after being out of action since August.

Meanwhile, French forward Enzo Crivelli, who was among the scorers on Saturday, is set to start up front; Chris Bedia also got himself on the scoresheet and should join Crivelli in the hosts' attack.

Servette captain Frick is a certain starter at Stade de Geneve, but Slavia Prague's goalkeeping selection remains a toss-up between Ales Mandous and Ondrej Kolar, who have recently been rotated.

As Slovakian midfielder Jakub Hromada should overcome a leg injury to be involved at some stage, the visitors could travel to Switzerland with a fully available squad.

While Lukas Provod and new signing Andres Dumitrescu compete to feature on the left flank, Slavia coach Jindrich Trpisovsky should select Czech internationals Vaclav Jurecka and Mojmir Chytil and one other in a likely front three.

Servette possible starting lineup:
Frick; Vouilloz, Rouiller, Severin, Mazikou; Bolla, Douline, Cognat, Kutesa; Crivelli, Bedia

Slavia Prague possible starting lineup:
Kolar; Ogbu, Dorley, Holes; Doudera, Masopust, Sevcik, Provod; Jurasek, Chytil, Jurecka

We say: Servette 1-2 Slavia Prague

With a winning habit already formed, Slavia Prague have started this season in fine style; meanwhile, Servette are struggling to replicate last term's achievements. Therefore, the visitors - who also possess far more European know-how - should come away with three points on Group G's opening day.


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