Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Slávia TU Košice beat Spartak Medzev 1-0 in a pre-season friendly in Nová Polhora. Samuel Balica scored the only goal in the 28th minute in front of 192 spectators.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
The only goal arrived in the 28th minute. Balica, a defender who has been with Slávia since rejoining the club in 2024, found the net to separate the two sides before the break. The first half ended 1-0, and neither team could add to the scoreline after the restart.
No cards were recorded during the match, reflecting the friendly nature of the encounter.
The Turning Point
Balica's 28th-minute strike proved decisive. The early goal gave Slávia a lead they would not surrender, forcing Spartak Medzev to chase the game from the first half onward. The visitors could not find a way through, and the single goal stood as the difference between two sides who will face each other in the 3. Liga Východ this coming season.
Key Performers
Samuel Balica (Slávia TU Košice) — The defender scored the match-winner in the 28th minute, his goal proving the difference in a tightly contested friendly. Balica has been a consistent presence in the Slávia backline and showed his value at the other end of the pitch.
Slávia TU Košice defence — A clean sheet is always a positive in pre-season, and Slávia's backline held firm against a Spartak Medzev side that will be a direct league rival this season.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
The match was a low-event affair: one goal, no cards, and a single moment of quality that decided the contest. For a pre-season friendly, this typifies the phase where both managers prioritise fitness and shape over expansive play. Slávia's clean sheet — their first of the pre-season campaign — will be the most encouraging takeaway for the coaching staff.
What It Means
This was the fourth pre-season friendly for Slávia TU Košice, who are preparing for life in the 3. Liga Východ after relegation from the MONACObet Liga (Slovak second tier) in 2025/26, where they finished 14th with 32 points. Spartak Medzev also compete in the 3. Liga Východ, meaning the two sides will reconvene for league action when the season begins on 9 August 2026.
Slávia's pre-season programme has included matches against FC Lokomotíva Košice (5-1 loss, 27 June), MŠK Rimavská Sobota (2-2 draw, 12 July), and now this 1-0 win over Spartak Medzev. They will face FK Borša on 25 July before the league campaign starts.
Verdict
A workmanlike pre-season win for Slávia TU Košice, built on a solid defensive display and one sharp finish from Balica. The clean sheet and the result against a direct league rival provide useful momentum heading into the 3. Liga Východ season, which starts on 9 August.
Match Events
Key match events between Slávia TU Košice and Spartak Medzev — 1 goal and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 21 Jul 2026