Brighton begin a run of five away games in 16 days at Jablonec on Thursday, where the Czech side are unbeaten in seven European home matches.
Brighton are third in the Premier League with 16 points from seven games and a division-high 23 goals, after a 5-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday, their biggest against the Eagles since 1956. They also top the Conference League league-phase table after a 4-0 win over Kauno Žalgiris. Jablonec lost 3-2 at Freiburg on matchday one and 3-2 at home to Viktoria Plzeň on Sunday, having trailed 3-0.
Luboš Kozel’s side finished fourth in the Czech First League last season and are seventh after 11 games this time, but have won all three home Conference League qualifiers this season without conceding. Kozel has set a target of seven points from the league phase. This is the first meeting between the clubs, and Hürzeler said Brighton have studied Jablonec closely and will not underestimate them.
Jablonec vs Brighton – Match preview and team news
- Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
- Kick-off: 17:45 BST
- Venue: Stadion Střelnice
- Last meeting: None (first meeting)
Team news
Jablonec
Lamin Jawo and Jan Suchan are out, while Kevin-Prince Milla and Krystof Karban are long-term absentees. Martin Cedidla, who has four non-penalty goals this season, is expected at right-back, and Antonin Rusek leads the attack.
Brighton
Pascal Struijk has a minor problem and Femi Azeez is still being eased back, Hürzeler said, while Kaoru Mitoma, Yankuba Minteh, Mats Wieffer, Evan Ferguson, Stefanos Tzimas and Zadok Yohanna remain out. Changes are expected, with Costinha, Michael Svoboda, Jack Hinshelwood, Matt O’Riley, Ibrahim Osman and Georginio Rutter pushing for places. Hürzeler said loan signing Promise David could get minutes but did not confirm a start.
Form
Jablonec
Jablonec have won two of their last six matches in all competitions. They play out from the back and, according to Hürzeler, lead the Czech league in crosses while conceding few big chances. They have scored in each of their last 10 European matches, including two against Freiburg.
Brighton
Brighton have beaten Sunderland 2-0, Kauno Žalgiris 4-0 and Palace 5-0 in their last three, with 11 different scorers this season. They have won six of their last seven European matches, keeping a clean sheet in each win, and are aiming for four successive away wins for the first time since April 2016. Hürzeler also said the long journey to Czechia would be no excuse.
Predicted lineups
Jablonec predicted XI: Hanus; Cedidla, Tekijaski, Pavlovic, Slama; Okeke, Sedlacek; Polidar, Alioum, Tchanturishvili; Rusek
Brighton predicted XI: Verbruggen; Costinha, Svoboda, Dunk, Boscagli; Gross, O’Riley; Gomez, Hinshelwood, Osman; Rutter
How to watch Jablonec vs Brighton?
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on TNT Sports, with streaming via HBO Max.
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