Yablonets – Brighton: preview
We have the lineups for the encounter between Yablonets and Brighton in the second round of the common phase of the 2026/27 Conference League.
The fifth Czech team avoided a crushing defeat in its match against the German side "Freiburg", but the next challenge will be far more serious: they will host one of the best English teams of the current season, "Brighton".
Key points
Yablonets
1. "Yablonets" conceded six goals in their last two matches
Yablonets eliminated the Hungarian "Varazdin", the Lithuanian RFŠ and the Scottish "Rangers" from the Conference League qualification stage. However, in the first round of the common phase the Czech club faced a tough challenge: the Europa League finalist "Freiburg". The match ended 2:3, but those numbers are misleading: the German side could have scored many more goals, while "Yablonets" turned both precise shots into the net. After the fatigue from the intense match in Germany, Yablonets lost an important game against "Victoria" from Pilsen (2:3), dropping to eighth place in the Czech league.
2. Yablonets has two losses in the attacking line
Among the players who secured qualification to the common phase of the Conference League, Lajos Kozel cannot count on two forwards: Jan Sukhan and Lamin Yavo. Fortunately, Yablonets' new summer signing Garang Kuo has been gaining form, scoring two goals in five matches, and also netted a goal against "Freiburg" as a substitute. The player Felipe Zorvan also competes for the starting spot, having provided two assists in the game against "Victoria". Left back Eduardo Sobol is not called up for European clubs, but his good form allowed Irji Slame to rest over the weekend after playing the full match against "Freiburg" and barely recovering from an injury.
3. Yablonets will try to take advantage of home advantage
Having secured a place in the common phase of the Conference League, the fifth Czech team, based on the last championship, earned most of its points from home matches: in the games against "Varazdin" and "Rangers" it recovered after away defeats by a one‑goal margin. Moreover, in the three home matches of the current season's Conference League, Yablonets conceded no goals, and the streak of unbeaten home games totals seven matches. However, both visitors from the top five European leagues ended with away victories: "Betis" in 2013 was stronger with 2:1, and "Rennes" five years later won thanks to a goal.
Brighton
1. "Brighton" is unstoppable: six consecutive wins
In the last three home matches, Brighton demolished the current English champion "Arsenal" (3:0), the Conference League debutant "Kauko Yalgiris" (4:0), and the EPL midfield side "Crystal Palace" (5:0). However, they also perform well away: in the last four away games the "seagulls" scored 13 goals in total, avoiding only a defeat against "Chelsea" (3:4), but leaving "Coventry" (5:0), "Manchester United" in the League Cup (3:2) and another English European competition participant "Sunderland" (2:0).
2. Yablonets will play the second team again
Brighton has many injured players, but the squad depth is sufficient to carry out a quality rotation in matches against teams in the fourth position of the Conference League. In the first‑round match against "Yalgiris", Fabian Huerzer gave playing time to almost the entire bench, making eight changes at the start compared to the last Premier League match. The same approach is expected now, as on Sunday the "seagulls" will have a tough trip to "Anfield" against "Liverpool".
3. "Brighton" is the most prolific English team
In seven Premier League fixtures, the "seagulls" scored 23 goals. Among the top four Premier League teams, only "West Ham" has a better indicator, but the "hammerheads" with 30 goals have played four more matches. Additionally, "Brighton" scored 11 goals in four matches in other competitions, bringing their average goals per match in the current season to 3.09. Yablonets' defense will face another tough test in European competition.
Estimated lineups
4-2-3-1 4-1-4-1 3-3-1
Ganeush 20
Slama 15
Pavlovich 4
Tekiyashki 18
Cedidla 13
Sedlaczek 6
Okeke 8
Zorvan 36
Kuo 7
Chanturishvili 9
Rusek 23
Stil 20
Koshta 4
Stroyk 30
Svoboda 21
Boscali 35
Yalkuye 8
Hineselwood 13
Gross 33
O'Riley 15
Osman 10
Rytter
Trend betting
Both teams scored in only two of the last six European matches of Yablonets. In the last nine international matches of Brighton, only one team scored the maximum. OZ (no) at 1.85.
At least four goals were scored in the last two matches of Yablonets and in three of the last four matches of Brighton. TB (3.5) at 2.22.
Prediction
Yablonets vs Brighton 22.10.2026 20:45
"Yablonets" joined the Conference League thanks to the disqualification of another Czech team, but fully capitalised on the opportunity, not conceding a single goal in the three home matches of the qualification phase. The first round of the common phase ended with a relatively decent result 2:3 on the road to the German "Freiburg", but the opponent could have scored many more. However, it is worth praising "Yablonets" for the successful execution of two of their three dangerous moments, so the chances of delighting their fans with a goal in the English side's net are quite high.
"Brighton" had luck with the competition schedule at the start of the common phase: the first two opponents belong to the fourth position. The Lithuanian "Kauko Yalgiris" left four goals to the second line of "Brighton", which maintains its record against the successes of the squad, which also scores a lot in other competitions. Suppose the "seagulls" manager Fabian Huerzer reserves all leaders for Sunday's game against "Liverpool", but the hosts will not make it easier.
Prediction: 1-3
