Heated battle: Vienna calling for rising star Prague
Cara Iden
© Jakub PlatenikThe game between the Prague Lions and the Vienna Vikings on Saturday evening promises to be a heated battle in more ways than one. At kickoff time - 18:00 CET - temperatures in the Austrian capital are still expected to reach around 30 degrees Celsius - setting the stage for a steamy battle atop the ELF’s Eastern Conference.
This is more than just a regular-season game: The division-leading Vikings (5–1) will host the second-place Lions (4–2), who are riding a wave of momentum after winning four straight games. With a win, the Lions can catch up with the Vienna Vikings. Vikings head coach Chris Calaycay is fully aware of the challenge ahead. Speaking at the team’s weekly press talk, he said: "We know that Prague is a hot team right now, they won their last four games." Calaycay added that his team knows Prague's strengths and is getting ready to face them.
WATCH THE PRAGUE LIONS AT FRANKFURT GALAXY WEEK 7 HIGHLIGHTS HERE!
Balanced stats, different strengths
The statistics of both teams are fairly balanced - even though they play very different styles of football. The Vienna Vikings have impressed this season mainly with their strong offense, while the Prague Lions have had a good portion of their success thanks to a very solid defense.
When it comes to rushing yards, both teams put up similar numbers. But in the air, the difference is clear: The Vikings average 214.2 passing yards per game, a stat that clearly reflects their strong passing game. However, the Lions defense knows how to handle that kind of threat - allowing just 151.8 passing yards per game on average.
The biggest difference between the teams is in turnovers: Here, the Prague Lions clearly have the upper hand over the Vikings. A key player is Prague’s strong safety Lautaro Frecha. The Argentine, who played for the Barcelona Dragons from 2021 to 2024 and joined the Lions this season, has already recorded four interceptions and returned them for a total of 113 yards - an important part of Prague’s defensive success.
WATCH THE VIENNA VIKINGS AT RAIDERS TIROL WEEK 7 HIGHLIGHTS HERE!
Key playmakers to watch
The Prague Lions also have standout talents on offense – first and foremost quarterback Javarian Smith. In six games, Smith has thrown for 898 yards and added 225 rushing yards to his total, scoring two touchdowns on the ground. His mobility and ability to make plays on the run put constant pressure on the defense. In recent games, wide receiver William Patterson has become an increasingly important factor in Prague’s offense. This has not gone unnoticed by Vienna’s head coach, who said: "William Patterson is a definite threat on the offensive side of the ball, so we really have to make sure that we have him in their game plan and take care of him."
The Vienna Vikings also have strong players in their roster. Quarterback Ben Holmes has already distributed 1.288 yards to his teammates this season. The return of running back Karri Pajarinen, who will play for the first time this weekend since his shoulder injury, also gives the Vikings hope. Pajarinen was one of the leading running backs in the league last year and had a very good start to this season before unfortunately suffering a shoulder injury. Calaycay said: "We made sure that we got him back 100% healthy so he could be back playing." He added: "He will have a role. How much he gets, heading into it, really depends on how he’s feeling during the game."
As both teams gear up for what promises to be a thrilling showdown, anticipation is high for an intense battle on the field.
In view of the 4th of July weekend, the game in Vienna will be themed a bit US American in honor and out of respect for the American coaches and players. Representatives of the US embassy will be there, and for the first time, the US anthem will be played before a Vikings game. The officials hope that despite the heatwave during the first week of summer holidays, a large crowd will turn out to give the Vikings that all-important home-field boost.