Exciting football on New Year's Eve and beyond
December 2009 - Not even the freezing weather will prevent a meeting of Prague's top two teams – archrivals Slavia and Sparta – for their traditional New Year's Eve match. A week later, the O2 Arena will host an exciting mini-tournament.
The 24th annual New Year’s Eve match will be held on artificial turf next to the Slavia stadium and will feature former players from both teams. Appearing in Slavia's red and white uniform for the first time this year will be Vladimír Šmicer (who also played for Lens, Liverpool, and Bordeaux), who retired this fall. Other former Slavia stars will include Pavel Řehák, Ivo Knoflíček, Ivo Ulich, and Pavel Kuka, while former Sparta players include Horst Siegl, Jan Berger, and Josef Němec.
The match for over-50 veterans begins at 10 am, the main match for players over 35 starts at 11. The games are played on a small field, with the two sides exchanges attacks. A special rule: "penalty kick after three corners."
Slavia has won 16 matches, Sparta only 4. The games are played outside, so don't forgot to dress warm. Mulled wine or other goodies to keep you warm are available.
A week later, on 9 January, the O2 Arena offers a warmer venue for the fourth indoor off-the-wall Weekend of Champions. The best Czech teams – Slavia Praha (including Tunisian players Belaida and Ragueda), Bohemians 1905, Sparta Praha and Slovan Liberec – will meet Slovak champions Slovenska Slovan Bratislava and Slovakia’s best team, MŠK Žilina. The atmosphere inside the arena is always charged, and the loudest fans are always the green-and-white Bohemians and the red-and-white Slavia. Come and check them out yourself. Tickets are available here.