Polish midfielder Wiktor Nowak scores twice on Slavia Prague debut in 5-1 rout of Slovacko
The 21-year-old Polish midfielder, signed from Górnik Zabrze for €2.4 million, struck in the 16th minute and again in first-half stoppage time as the Czech champions opened their 2026/27 league campaign with a dominant home victory.
Transfer and debut
Wiktor Nowak’s move to Slavia Prague materialised just weeks ago, with the Czech champions paying Górnik Zabrze €2.4 million for the 21-year-old midfielder. As part of the deal, Ondrej Zmrzly and Erik Prekop headed in the opposite direction for a combined €1.5 million. Nowak had never played a senior match for Górnik; he was signed from Znicz Pruszków on a free transfer a year earlier and immediately loaned to Wisła Płock, where he made 33 appearances, scoring five goals and providing one assist. On Sunday he was handed an immediate start by Slavia coach as the 2026/27 Chance Liga season kicked off at an empty Eden Arena – the closed doors a consequence of a fan sanction against the home supporters.
Match action
Slovacko stunned the hosts in the 12th minute when Pavel Juroska sprinted onto a through ball, entered the box and fired a powerful shot past the goalkeeper. Slavia responded within two minutes: a throw-in caused chaos in the visitors’ area and Mojmir Chytil finished acrobatically to level. Two minutes later, Nowak pounced on a goalkeeper error to put Slavia ahead with his first goal for the club. The home side extended the lead in the 35th minute through Ouanda, and Nowak struck again deep into first-half stoppage time, capitalising on a defensive mix-up to tap in from close range after the ball rolled across the face of goal. The half ended 4-1.
The second period was less eventful until the 60th minute, when Juroska committed a brutal foul on Mikulas Konecny. After a VAR review, the referee showed Juroska a straight red card. Nowak, who had been booked in the 42nd minute, was substituted in the 65th minute to an ovation from the crowd. In stoppage time, Slavia’s Konecny also saw red, but the result was long settled at 5-1.
- Juroska scores for Slovacko
- Chytil equalises for Slavia
- Nowak scores his first goal
- Ouanda makes it 3-1
- Nowak booked
- Nowak scores his second goal
- Juroska sent off after VAR review
- Nowak substituted to ovation
- Konecny sent off
Nowak’s performance
Nowak’s two goals came from different types of finishes. The first, in the 16th minute, was a precise left-footed strike after the Slovacko goalkeeper failed to deal with a ball. The second, in first-half added time, required only a simple tap-in after a defensive error left the goal unguarded. He was replaced after 65 minutes, having also created another clear chance that he could not convert. His display earned him the man-of-the-match billing in Polish reports.
Polish connections
Another Polish summer arrival at Slavia, Oskar Kubiak, was not included in the matchday squad. The former Arka Gdynia player, signed for €1 million, missed out through injury. Nowak, meanwhile, is also a regular for the Poland under-21 side coached by Jerzy Brzęczek, which is on course to qualify for the 2027 European Championship.
What’s next
Slavia Prague travel to Banik Ostrava for the second round of the Chance Liga. Nowak will hope to build on his explosive start, while Kubiak will aim to recover fitness and push for a debut of his own.
