Ceske Budejovice U20 vs Plzen U20

Having lost 4–2 to Plzen in the reverse pre-season fixture on 4 August — a game in which Plzen scored four goals in the closing minutes of the second period at LOGSPEED CZ Aréna — Ceske Budejovice reversed the result on home ice. The hosts' ability to keep Plzen at bay during the final stretch proved decisive.

While individual scorer data is unavailable, the result highlighted Ceske Budejovice's attacking depth. Multiple players contributed to the five-goal haul against a Plzen side that had conceded only 15 goals across six pre-season games coming in (2.5 per game).

Player of the Match: Not officially named.

The 5–4 scoreline continues a remarkable trend in this rivalry: 18 of the last 22 meetings have seen both teams score (82%), and 20 of 22 have gone over 2.5 goals (91%). The 5–4 result fits squarely within that pattern — neither defence was airtight, but both attacks were clinical enough to keep the game alive until the final whistle.

Plzen had conceded only one loss in regulation across six pre-season games before this (0–1 vs Karlovy Vary on 20 Aug), making Ceske Budejovice's five-goal output all the more notable.

This was the final pre-season friendly for both sides before the Komerční banka extraliga juniorů (U20 Czech junior league) begins its 2026/27 season. Ceske Budejovice open their league campaign away at Slavia Prague on Friday 4 September. Plzen host Ceske Budejovice in the league on Saturday 5 September — a quick rematch in the regular-season opener at LOGSPEED CZ Aréna.

A chaotic, entertaining pre-season finale that told us more about Ceske Budejovice's offensive ceiling than Plzen's defensive shortcomings. Neither team will read much into the result — pre-season friendly hockey is notoriously unpredictable — but the hosts will carry momentum into their league opener, while Plzen have clear defensive areas to sharpen before the real business begins.