Sabah FK host Slavia Prague in search of first points

Form points in opposite directions

Sabah FK's recent matches show two wins from five, both by comfortable margins: 4-0 against AGF and 5-2 against HBE. The three defeats include that opening-night setback against Manchester United, a 1-2 loss to AGF and another 1-2 reverse against HBE. Slavia Prague arrive in worse shape, winless in their last five with four defeats and a single draw, a 0-0 stalemate with ATH the only point taken from that stretch. The other four results read 0-3, 2-4, 1-4 and that opening-night 2-3, conceding twelve goals across those losses.

What the market sees

The pre-match probability has Slavia Prague as favourites at 46.5 per cent, Sabah FK at 28.0 per cent and the draw at 25.4 per cent. That makes the visitors nearly twice as likely to win as the home side, despite their recent run. The market is reading something beyond the last five results, perhaps the quality of opponent, perhaps the gap implied by the opening fixtures, perhaps simply the away team's pedigree. Either way, the numbers give Slavia Prague the edge in a match where both need three points more than most teams do after one round. A win would take either side to three points from two games; a draw leaves both on one point, already behind the early pace-setters.

Starting position

Sabah FK sit 34th in the table on zero points with a goal difference of minus four. Slavia Prague are ten places higher in 24th, also on zero points but with a goal difference of minus one. Six teams at the top of the table already have three points and healthy goal differences after the opening round, led by Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich on plus five apiece. A defeat here would leave the loser on zero points from two games; a win puts the victor level with the chasing pack.

We are covering this one live. Follow it with us in the match centre for the line-ups when they land, the goals as they go in, and the full timeline.