CZECHIA

The Prague derby between Slavia and Sparta in the quarter-finals of the 2023/24 Czech Cup was the first match that Lee and Paul ever attended together. But they were not alone: Scottish student Joe McTaggart, a pod listener, won a competition to join them at the match.

Our seats were so good that Paul was even persuaded not to watch from his hotel room, whose window looked out onto the pitch. Instead, we took our places pitchside for the choreos and tifos that preceded the game and then settled down to watch the action.

Everything was looking good for the hosts, who took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals either side of the break. But then the capitulation at the hands of their arch rivals began, with Sparta hitting back with three goals - the last five minutes before the end of extra-time - to book a place in the semi-finals.

The following day, we were invited back for a tour of the Fortuna Arena by Slavia Prague’s director of communications Jakub Splavec, who led us through the stadium to the club museum and finally out onto the pitch. An incredible two days that we won’t forget in a hurry!