Gates of UEFA Champions League remain closed

First change to the ideal Slavia line-up was made before the game even started. After the warm-up the captain Milan Škoda decided not to play due to his health problems and had to be replaced by the Dutch striker Mick van Buren.

Nevertheless Slavia started the game much better than a week back in Nicosia. Supported by the frenetic supporters Frydrych could open the score just two minutes into the game but his header after Rotaň’s corner was pushed over the crossbar by Waterman.

After 10 minutes of the game De Camargo fired his shot far over the crossbar of Laštůvka’s net. It was the first and the last APOEL attempt in the whole game.

Just a minute later Stoch tried his luck from outside the box on the other side, missing Waterman’s left post only by centimetres.

Half an hour into the game van Buren emerged uncovered inside the box but the Dutch forward directed his header over the crossbar after Bořil’s cross.

The biggest chance for Slavia came five minutes before the break. A ball from the right side was flicked on by Souček finding Danny at the back post but the Portuguese midfielder volleyed it over the crossbar from close range.

APOEL weathered the Slavia storm in the first half and continued to do so in the second, prolonging the pauses and requesting medical treatment after every minor contact.

At minute 52 Danny emerged in almost identical chance after the corner was flicked on by Souček again but his right-foot volley was sent over the bar. Few minutes later Bořil fired his shot from the brink of the penalty area but was denied by Waterman.

In the last breath of Slavia shortly before the full-time Zmrhal fired his shot from outside the box but Waterman pushed the ball away.

After 0-0 the dream of the UEFA Champions League is over, but Slavia can look forward to the Europa League. Our opponents will be known on Friday, August 25.