The Czech First League resumes on Friday, July 18, following a dramatic finish to the 2024/25 season. Defending champions Slavia Prague aim to retain their crown, but fierce competition awaits. Will they repeat their triumph, or will a new champion emerge? Our 25/26 Chance Liga season betting guide breaks down the top contenders for this exciting new campaign.
The 2025/26 Czech Chance Liga season starts with an opening matchup between Pardubice vs Viktoria Plzeň on Friday, July 18, 2025. The competition will run for 11 months, concluding by May 31, 2026. Sixteen teams will each play 30 regular-season matches before splitting into three groups. This format mirrors previous years: Championship, Playoff, and Relegation rounds. Reigning champions Slavia Prague begin their title defence on Sunday against Hradec Králové.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Czech First League 2025/26 (Chance Liga) |
| ⚽️ Venues: | Stadiums Across the Czech Republic |
| 🗓️ Dates: | 18 July 2025 – 31 May 2026 |
The Czech First League follows a two-phase format introduced during the 2018/19 season. The campaign begins with a regular season, where all 16 teams play home and away. During this phase, each team will play 30 matches. After the regular phase, clubs are divided into the Championship, Europa League Playoffs, and Relegation round.
The top six teams enter the Championship Group and play five more matches. Points from the regular season carry over, and the group winner is crowned league champion. Slavia Prague was crowned the champion last season. Teams ranked 7th to 10th enter the placement playoffs, with no European spot since the 24/25 season, and compete only for the cash bonus. The bottom six join the Relegation Group, playing five extra matches with retained points.
The 16th-placed team is automatically relegated to the second division. Teams finishing 14th and 15th must battle the 2nd and 3rd clubs from the Czech National Football League in the play-offs. Dynamo České Budějovice got relegated last season, while Pardubice and Dukla Praha engaged in the playoffs. They both won their playoffs, which saw them remain in the Czech First League.
The Czech First League was formed in 1993–94 after Czechoslovakia’s dissolution, replacing the Czechoslovak League. Since then, 35 clubs have participated, with Sparta Prague emerging as the most successful side. They’ve secured 14 titles, with two wins within the last three seasons. They are followed by last season’s champion, Slavia Prague, with eight.
Other title winners include Slovan Liberec, Baník Ostrava, and Viktoria Plzeň. Initially, teams earned two points for a win, but the system changed to three in 1994. During the 2019–20 season, the relegation group was scrapped due to COVID-19 disruptions, preventing any team from being relegated.
As of the 2024–25 season, the Czech First League ranks 10th in UEFA’s league rankings. This reflects the country’s growing presence in European competitions and the league’s competitive evolution since its inception.
Here is who won the top-flight Czechia football division in the last five years:
Before proceeding with our Season predictions for the Czech First League 25/26, let’s preview the leading contenders for the title. Online bookies in Czechia have released outright odds for all teams participating in the league. Here we analyse the prospects of the top five teams competing this season.
Slavia Prague return as defending champions after clinching last season’s title, three years since their 2020/21 triumph. They dominated both the regular season and the championship round, amassing an impressive 90 points from 35 games. Finishing 16 points clear of nearest rivals Viktoria Plzeň, it’s unsurprising they are top of this list. Experienced coach Jindřich Trpišovský, a four-time league winner, will again lead their title charge in the upcoming campaign. He is the most successful manager in league history with four titles, making them a favorite again this season. Football national championship sites have assigned Slavia the best 2025–26 Czech First League winner odds of 1.50 (1/2) to secure another title win come May 31.
Sparta Prague’s title defence fell short of expectations last season after back-to-back triumphs in 2023 and 2024. They finished fourth in the regular season and championship round, suffering ten defeats, three times more than the eventual champions. Despite the setback, Sparta remains a top contender this season. They’ll be eager to bounce back as the most successful Czech top-flight team with 14 titles. The squad retains its core, including standout forward Lukáš Haraslín, who scored 11 goals in 22 league matches. He will be keen to improve last season’s perform as Sparta seeks to return to winning ways.
Viktoria Plzen’s title hopes last season were crushed by Slavia Prague’s dominant campaign. They finished second in both the regular season and the championship round, collecting 74 points. Despite missing out on the title, Plzen enjoyed a solid season, reaching the Europa League last 16 and the Czech Cup semi-finals. If they improve their consistency, another title challenge could be on the cards. Their previous league triumph came in 2021/22, and Miroslav Koubek’s side will be determined to end that drought. Given their exploits last term, most 25/26 Czech First League season predictions guides consider them a potential title winner.
Banik Ostrava impressed last season, finishing third in both league phases with 71 points. It marked an improvement on their previous campaign, and they’ll aim to push even higher this season. Head coach Pavel Hapal remains in charge and will look to strengthen the squad during the transfer window. Banik last won the Czech First League in 2003/04, losing just three games. While title hopes are slim, a strong run could see them spring a surprise.
Slovan Liberec ranks among the top five favourites, having won the Czech First League three times. Their most recent title win came during the 2011/12 season. Last season, they finished seventh in the regular phase, missing out on the championship round. Despite that, they produced memorable moments, most notably a victory over Sparta Prague. Radoslav Kováč’s team could be this season’s dark horse, though a title push will require a truly exceptional campaign.
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Slavia Prague’s 2024–25 campaign showcased dominance and balance. They sealed the Czech First League title with 90 points from 35 matches, finishing 16 clear of Viktoria Plzeň. Impressively, they won all 18 home games, underlining Fortuna Arena as a true fortress. They blended clinical attack with elite defence by scoring 76 goals and conceding just 18. Tomas Chory and Vasil Kusej were key offensive contributors. With Jindřich Trpišovský still at the helm, Slavia enters 2025–26 as overwhelming favourites to retain their crown.
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Despite falling short of the title, Viktoria Plzeň’s 2024–25 campaign proved their top-tier credentials. They finished second with 74 points, just behind dominant champions Slavia Prague, and netted 71 goals across 35 games. Pavel Šulc contributed 15 goals and nine assists in all competitions, underlining his creative influence needed against top teams. Their runs to the Europa League Round of 16 and the Czech Cup semi-finals reflect impressive squad depth. With a solid core and strong ambition, Plzeň looks ready to challenge seriously for the 2025–26 league crown.
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Sparta Prague enters the new season fired up to rebound after a disappointing fourth-place finish. As the league’s most decorated club with 14 titles, they’ll aim to begin with a commanding win. History favours them with Sparta winning five of their last six meetings against Jablonec and finishing 11 points clear last term. With revenge fueling their title push, expect Sparta Prague to take all three points in this opener and lay down an early marker.
Our best 25-26 Czech Chance Liga predictions are:
Slavia Prague’s incredible campaign last season does not seem like a fluke, and they will likely maintain that run in a bid for their 9th Czech football championship. To win extra cash, use our betting tips here to select the best 2025–26 Czech First League odds on your favourite bookies.
