Videoton play their first pre-season friendly against international opposition on Tuesday, when Slovakian champions, MSK Zilina are the visitors.
MSK Zilina were founded back in 1908, but the stamp of authority only came a decade later. There first win in the Slovakian league came in 1928. They have had a good record since Slovakia seperated to form their own league, back in 1993. They have won the domestic title 5 times in the last 10 years. This was the case in the season that has just finished, when MSK Zilina won the league with a total of 73 points, which gave them a 3 point lead over second placed Slovan Bratislava. Zilina also have a good reputation for their youth poilicy. One player to have come through the ranks is Marek Mintal, who went on to become top goalscorer in the German league. Another player is Peter Pekarik, who is a defender with Wolfsburg, and currently out in the World Cup representing his country.
SInce we are mentioning the World Cup, there are no players in the current Slovakian side in South Africa. This is despite having the talented Tomas Oravec and Ivan Lietava as their strike force. The duo scored 24 goals between them in the league last season. Striker Lietava scored 13 times, and the 26-year-old is 189cm tall. His club have put a transfer price of 800,000 euros on his head. That has not put clubs off buying him, and there is current interest in the player. However, his club are in no rush to sell him, as they have their own Champions league dreams. While Videoton drew Slovenian side NK Maribor in the Europa league draw, Zilina received an easier chance of progressing in the Champions league, as they face the winners of the Andorran side Santa Coloma and Maltese club, Birkirkara.
Zilina have already had a friendly with Hungarian opponents on June 19th, when they drew 1-1 at the home of Gyori ETO. Their goal came from Adam Zilak. A poll on their website has revealed that their supporters expect their side to win, with 89.4% voting for a victory over Vidi. However, captain Balazs Farkas and his side will have other ideas.
Szerző: David Rechnitzer