Sports News

In Sports News this Monday: Viktoria Plzeň lift Czech league title with three rounds to go – coach Krejčí says November win over rivals Sparta sparked march to championship; Lucie Šafářová shows form of old with Prague Open win; and Jágr is shortlisted for Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for dedication to ice hockey.

Viktoria Plzeň seal title with home win over Ostrava

Viktoria Plzeň, photo: CTK

With three rounds of the Czech soccer league remaining Viktoria Plzeň have been crowned champions for the fourth time since the 2010/2011 season when they won the first ever title in their history.

The West Bohemians lifted their first consecutive league trophy after overcoming Baník Ostrava 2:0 on Saturday in a record-breaking 16th win on the trot.

Plzeň were virtually guaranteed the title after overcoming main rivals Sparta Prague last weekend. And manager Karel Krejčí believes it was an earlier victory over the country’s most successful club back in November that set them on their way.

“Though we were reduced to 10 men the boys beat Sparta and I think that inspired them. We then went on a run to the end of the first half of the season when we managed to win tough away games. I think our game at Sparta also showed that we’ve got a strong team.”

Plzeň defender Roman Hubník says the Prague club may have paid the price for getting to the last eight of the Europa League.

“Sparta played excellent matches in the Europa League and that may have hurt them a bit. I know what it was like when we were in Europe. We weren’t fully focused on league games. Sparta had a tough April – and that’s also why we are champions three rounds before the end of the league.”

Incidentally Plzeň coach Karel Krejčí says he will make good in the coming days on a promise to dye his hair the club’s red and blue colours if his charges lifted the title again.

Šafářová wins first matches – and trophy – of 2016 in front of home crowd

Lucie Šafářová, photo: CTK

Lucie Šafářová has won the Prague Open for the seventh WTA title of her career and her first since Doha in February last year. The Czech one-time world number five had previously not won a single match in 2016 after suffering from a serious illness last year. But the 29-year-old showed that she is getting back to her best with a 3-6 6-1 6-4 win over Samantha Stosur of Australia in Saturday’s final. Šafářová says the enthusiastic home crowd at Stromovka park were a great help.

“They spurred me on hugely. Samantha really played excellently today – she was aggressive and served well. But I said to myself, The support here is so great – I just can’t give up. So I really gave my all today and I’m extremely happy it turned out well.”

Jágr shortlisted for Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy

Jaromír Jágr, photo: Kristýna Maková

Czech ice hockey legend Jaromír Jágr is on the shortlist of three for this season’s Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy. No Czech NHL player has ever picked up the prize, which goes for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the sport.