Trnava vs Hibernianos: Resumen

FC Spartak Trnava delivered a commanding performance to dismantle Hibernians FC 5-1 in the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League qualification tie at the City Arena Trnava. The Slovak side's emphatic victory on July 31, 2025, secured a comfortable 7-2 aggregate win and progression to the next qualification round.

From the opening whistle, Spartak Trnava asserted their dominance in front of a passionate home crowd of approximately 9,500 fans who created an electric atmosphere at the City Arena. The roar after each goal reverberated through the stadium as the Slovakian outfit put on a clinical display of attacking football.

Libor Holík opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a powerful strike from the edge of the box, and Stefan Skrbo doubled the advantage with a well-placed header just before the half-hour mark. Hibernians briefly responded through Miullen, who capitalized on a rare defensive lapse to reduce the deficit, but any hopes of a comeback were swiftly extinguished early in the second half.

Michal Tomič, who came on as a substitute, made an immediate impact by scoring Trnava's third goal shortly after the restart. The floodgates then opened as an unfortunate own goal by Pedrão and a clinical finish from Philip Azango completed the rout, demonstrating the gulf in quality between the teams.

This result not only highlights Spartak Trnava's superiority in this particular tie but also strengthens their ambitions in the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League campaign. For Hibernians FC, the heavy defeat marks the end of their European journey this season and exposes areas that require significant improvement if they hope to make a deeper run in future continental competitions.

"We approached this match with the utmost respect for our opponents despite our advantage from the first leg. I'm delighted with how the players executed our game plan, particularly in the final third where we showed great efficiency. This performance sets a standard we must maintain as we progress further in the competition," said Michal Ščasný, Spartak Trnava's head coach.

"The scoreline reflects the reality of the gap between the two sides today. We had a brief moment when we got back into the game, but Trnava's quality shone through in the second half. This experience, though painful, provides valuable lessons for our players about the level required in European competition," admitted Branko Nišević, Hibernians FC's coach.

"We knew we needed to start strongly to kill any hope they might have had. Once we got the third goal early in the second half, we could express ourselves more freely. The support from our fans was incredible and gave us extra energy throughout the match," remarked Michal Ďuriš, Spartak Trnava's forward.

"Their movement and pace caused us problems all afternoon. We had a game plan to stay compact, but they found ways to break us down consistently. We need to learn from this defeat and come back stronger," reflected Bjorn Kristensen, Hibernians FC midfielder.

"Spartak Trnava demonstrated why they're considered one of the stronger teams at this stage of the qualification. Their clinical finishing and tactical discipline were impressive. Hibernians simply couldn't match their intensity for the full ninety minutes," analyzed Jan Kozak, former Slovakia national team coach who was present at the match.

Ball Possession: Spartak Trnava 63% - 37% Hibernians FC

Shots: Spartak Trnava 18 (11 on target) - Hibernians FC 7 (3 on target)

Corners: Spartak Trnava 8 - Hibernians FC 2

Free Kicks: Spartak Trnava 14 - Hibernians FC 9

Yellow Cards: Spartak Trnava 1 (Koštrna) - Hibernians FC 3 (Charleston, Kristensen, Pedrão)

Red Cards: None

Individual Performances:

• Philip Azango (Spartak Trnava): 1 goal, 2 assists, 89% pass completion rate
• Roman Procházka (Spartak Trnava): 92% pass accuracy, 3 key passes, 8 ball recoveries
• Žiga Frelih (Spartak Trnava): 2 saves, 75% distribution accuracy
• Miullen (Hibernians FC): 1 goal from 2 shots on target
• Laurentiu Brănescu (Hibernians FC): 6 saves despite conceding 5 goals

Team Comparison: Spartak Trnava dominated in virtually all statistical categories, reflecting their superior performance. Their midfield control was particularly evident with 412 completed passes compared to Hibernians' 187. The Slovak side's pressing game forced 17 turnovers in Hibernians' half, creating numerous transition opportunities that ultimately led to their comprehensive victory.

15' GOAL (1-0) - Libor Holík breaks the deadlock for Spartak Trnava with a powerful strike from the edge of the box after a well-worked corner routine. The right-back's technique was flawless as he sent the ball flying into the top corner.

27' GOAL (2-0) - Stefan Skrbo doubles Trnava's advantage with a perfectly placed header from Azango's cross. The midfielder timed his run expertly to meet the ball six yards out, giving Brănescu no chance.

37' GOAL (2-1) - Miullen pulls one back for Hibernians against the run of play. The forward capitalized on a rare defensive mistake by Twardzik, intercepting a loose pass before calmly slotting past Frelih.

47' GOAL (3-1) - Substitute Michal Tomič makes an immediate impact, restoring Trnava's two-goal cushion with a close-range finish after Ďuriš's initial shot was parried by Brănescu.

54' GOAL (4-1) - An unfortunate own goal by Pedrão extends Trnava's lead. The Hibernians defender attempted to clear Procházka's dangerous cross but only succeeded in diverting the ball into his own net.

57' GOAL (5-1) - Philip Azango puts the icing on the cake with a clinical finish. The winger cut in from the left before unleashing a right-footed shot that flew into the far corner, showcasing both his pace and precision.

65' Tactical Change - Hibernians switch to a 5-4-1 formation in an attempt to limit further damage, with Xuereb dropping deeper to provide additional defensive cover.

78' Substitution - Spartak Trnava make a triple change, giving minutes to academy players while resting key performers ahead of their upcoming league fixture.

The comprehensive victory for FC Spartak Trnava extends their perfect record against Hibernians FC in UEFA competitions. This was the sixth meeting between the two sides, with the Slovak outfit now having won all encounters, scoring a remarkable 22 goals while conceding just 4.

Their first European clash came in the 2018/19 UEFA Europa League qualifying rounds, where Spartak Trnava secured a 5-0 aggregate victory. The pattern continued in the 2021/22 UEFA Conference League qualifiers with Trnava winning 3-1 on aggregate, before this season's 7-2 cumulative triumph.

The City Arena Trnava has proven particularly inhospitable for Hibernians, who have now conceded 14 goals in their three visits while scoring just once. This stark contrast in performance at this venue underscores the significant gap in quality between the two sides.

In terms of individual battles, the contest between Spartak's Philip Azango and Hibernians' right-back Charleston was particularly one-sided, with the Nigerian winger consistently beating his marker to create numerous chances. Similarly, the midfield duel between Roman Procházka and Bjorn Kristensen was dominated by the Trnava captain, whose passing range and tactical awareness dictated the tempo of the match.

The technical and tactical superiority of Spartak Trnava has been evident throughout their head-to-head history, with Hibernians struggling to cope with the higher intensity and pressing game employed by the Slovak side. This latest result confirms the continuing disparity between clubs from these two European football nations in continental competition.

In the context of the UEFA Europa Conference League qualification pathway, FC Spartak Trnava's comprehensive victory secures their place in the third qualifying round. This represents a significant step in their European campaign as they aim to reach the group stages of the competition for the first time since its inception.

With this result, Spartak Trnava maintains their position among the stronger teams in this qualification phase, having now won both legs against Hibernians FC with an impressive aggregate score of 7-2. Their European coefficient will receive a welcome boost, potentially improving their seeding in future draws.

Hibernians FC exit the competition at the second qualifying round stage, a result that aligns with their recent European performances. The Maltese side has now failed to progress beyond this stage in their last three European campaigns, highlighting the challenges faced by clubs from smaller footballing nations.

In their respective domestic leagues, both teams occupy contrasting positions. Spartak Trnava currently sits 3rd in the Slovak Super Liga after five matches, while Hibernians FC is positioned 5th in the Maltese Premier League having played three matches in their new season.

Looking ahead, Spartak Trnava will face either Legia Warsaw from Poland or FK Sarajevo from Bosnia and Herzegovina in the next qualification round, with the first leg scheduled for August 7, 2025.