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2025–26 Czech First League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Czech First League
Season2025–26
Dates18 July 2025 – 24 May 2026
ChampionsSlavia Prague (9th title)
RelegatedDukla Prague
Karviná[a]
Champions LeagueSlavia Prague
Sparta Prague
Europa LeagueViktoria Plzeň
Hradec Králové
Conference LeagueJablonec
Matches276
Goals721 (2.61 per match)
Top goalscorerTomáš Chorý (17 goals)
Biggest home winLiberec 6–0 Karviná
9 November 2025
Biggest away winMladá Boleslav 0–5 Plzeň
19 August 2025
Highest scoringPlzeň 3–5 Slavia
9 November 2025

The 2025–26 Czech First League, known as the Chance Liga for sponsorship reasons, is the 33rd season of the Czech Republic's top-tier football for professional clubs since its establishment, in 1993. Slavia Prague are the reigning champions. The season is scheduled to start in July 2025. The first half of the season will have 19 rounds, finishing in December, and the other half will commence on 31 January 2026. The season is expected to end on 24 May 2026 with two extra play-out fixtures on 26–27 and 30–31 May 2026.[3][4]

Format

[edit]

The general season format is unchanged from last season. The 16 clubs will play each other home and away, until the league is split up in championship, play-off and relegation groups. The lowest-ranked team will be relegated directly to the second league, and the two teams positioned 14th and 15th will play a play-out with two teams from the second league positioned 2nd and 3rd in a home and away format.

This will be the eighth season to use VAR, featuring it in all matches played. There are no changes in the rules. The schedule also has not changed compared to last season.[4]

Teams

[edit]

Promotion and relegation (pre-season)

[edit]

A total of sixteen teams contest the league, including thirteen sides from the 2024–25 season, the winner of last season's second league, and two winners of the play-out, determined on 1 June 2025.

Team promoted to Czech First League

After being relegated in the 2023–24 season, FC Zlín returns to Czech First League as the champion of the 2024–25 Czech National Football League.[5]

Teams relegated from Czech First League

The lowest positioned team from the last season, SK Dynamo České Budějovice, was relegated to the Czech National Football League.

Locations and stadiums

[edit]

Managerial changes

[edit]

Pre-season:

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Contract valid until
Mladá BoleslavFootball Association of the Czech Republic Josef JinochEnd of caretaker spell25 May 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic Aleš Majer[21]2 June 2024Undisclosed
SlováckoFootball Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš PalinekEnd of caretaker spell25 May 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic Jan Kameník[22]5 June 2025Undisclosed
Sparta PragueFootball Association of the Czech Republic Luboš LoučkaEnd of caretaker spell24 May 2025Danish Football Association Brian Priske[23]8 June 2025Undisclosed
Dukla PragueFootball Association of the Czech Republic Petr RadaEnd of contract2 June 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic David Holoubek[24]16 June 2025Undisclosed

During the season:

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Match-week Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment Contract valid until
Viktoria PlzeňFootball Association of the Czech Republic Miroslav Koubek[25]Mutual consent29 September 2025105thSlovak Football Association Marek Bakoš[25] (caretaker) 29 September 2025Undisclosed
PardubiceFootball Association of the Czech Republic David Střihavka[26]Sacked29 September 20251016thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Jiří Krejčí[26] (caretaker) 29 September 2025Undisclosed
Baník OstravaFootball Association of the Czech Republic Pavel Hapal[27]Mutual consent11 October 20251211thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš Galásek[28]12 October 2025Undisclosed
PardubiceFootball Association of the Czech Republic Jiří Krejčí[29]End of caretaker spell14 October 20251216thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Jan Trousil[29]14 October 2025Undisclosed
KarvináFootball Association of the Czech Republic Martin Hyský[30]Signed by Viktoria Plzeň15 October 2025128thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Marek Jarolím[30] 15 October 2025Undisclosed
Viktoria PlzeňSlovak Football Association Marek Bakoš[31]End of caretaker spell15 October 2025126thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Martin Hyský[31]15 October 20252028
SlováckoFootball Association of the Czech Republic Jan Kameník[32]Sacked3 November 20251416thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Roman Skuhravý[33]18 November 2025Undisclosed
Dukla PragueFootball Association of the Czech Republic David Holoubek[34]Sacked10 February 20262116thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Pavel Šustr[35]12 February 2026Undisclosed
Baník OstravaFootball Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš Galásek[36]Sacked16 February 20262214thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Ondřej Smetana[36]16 February 2026Undisclosed
Sigma OlomoucFootball Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš Janotka[37]Sacked12 April 2026297thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Pavel Hapal[37] (caretaker)12 April 2026Undisclosed
Baník OstravaFootball Association of the Czech Republic Ondřej Smetana[38]Sacked26 April 20263016thFootball Association of the Czech Republic Josef Dvorník[38]26 April 2026Undisclosed

Regular season

[edit]

League table

[edit]

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Slavia Prague 30 21 8 1 63 23 +40 71 Qualification for the championship group
2 Sparta Prague 30 19 6 5 60 33 +27 63
3 Viktoria Plzeň 30 15 8 7 50 34 +16 53
4 Jablonec 30 15 6 9 41 33 +8 51
5 Hradec Králové 30 14 7 9 43 34 +9 49
6 Slovan Liberec 30 12 10 8 43 30 +13 46
7 Sigma Olomouc 30 12 7 11 34 34 0 43 Qualification for the middle group
8 Pardubice 30 11 8 11 39 46 −7 41
9 Karviná[b] 30 12 3 15 43 51 −8 39
10 Bohemians 1905 30 10 6 14 26 35 −9 36
11 Mladá Boleslav 30 8 11 11 44 52 −8 35 Qualification for the relegation group
12 Zlín 30 9 7 14 37 48 −11 34
13 Teplice 30 6 11 13 29 38 −9 29
14 Dukla Prague 30 4 11 15 20 42 −22 23[c]
15 Slovácko 30 5 8 17 26 45 −19 23[c]
16 Baník Ostrava 30 5 7 18 25 45 −20 22
Source: Chance Liga
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Goal difference; 6) Goals scored; 7) Fair-play ranking; 8) Draw.[39]
Notes:
  1. ↑ On 15 June 2026, it was announced that Karviná will be administratively relegated to the Czech National Football League by the Football Association of the Czech Republic due to alleged match-fixing.[1] The club announced that they would appeal the decision, but on 28 June 2026, after the 2025–26 season formally ended and the 2026–27 season began, the club decided to withdraw its appeal and leave the league.[2]
  2. ↑ Karviná originally qualified for the Europa League play-off round as winners of the 2025–26 Czech Cup, but after to the administrative relegation due to alleged match-fixing at the beginning of the 2026–27 season, the club waived its right to participate in the Europa League.[2]
  3. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Dukla Prague 6, Slovácko 0.

Results

[edit]
Home \ Away BOH DUK HKR JAB KAR LIB MLA OLO OST PCE PLZ SLA SLO SPA TEP ZLN
Bohemians 1905 — 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–3 0–0 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–2 0–1 0–2 1–0 2–0 0–1 2–1
Dukla Prague 0–2 — 1–1 2–0 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–2 1–1 0–2 2–0 0–2 1–0 0–3 1–3 0–0
Hradec Králové 2–0 3–0 — 2–0 1–2 2–3 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–1 0–3 2–1 4–0 2–1 0–0 0–0
Jablonec 1–0 0–0 2–0 — 1–0 1–2 2–0 1–2 4–1 3–2 3–3 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 1–3
Karviná 1–2 2–0 4–3 1–2 — 3–1 0–3 1–1 0–0 1–2 0–2 1–3 0–2 2–1 4–1 0–1
Slovan Liberec 0–0 2–0 0–1 0–2 6–0 — 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 0–2 1–1 2–0
Mladá Boleslav 2–2 1–1 3–2 3–0 2–4 3–3 — 1–4 1–1 2–0 0–5 1–3 0–0 1–2 0–0 3–1
Sigma Olomouc 1–0 0–0 1–0 2–0 2–2 2–1 2–4 — 1–0 2–0 1–2 0–0 2–1 0–1 0–0 1–0
Baník Ostrava 0–2 3–1 0–1 0–1 1–2 0–2 0–0 2–0 — 1–4 0–1 0–2 2–0 0–3 1–1 6–2
Pardubice 1–1 1–1 1–0 0–2 2–1 0–4 2–1 2–1 0–1 — 1–5 1–1 1–1 1–3 1–1 3–1
Viktoria Plzeň 2–0 2–0 3–3 1–1 2–1 3–1 2–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 — 3–5 1–1 0–0 2–2 0–1
Slavia Prague 3–1 2–0 2–2 4–3 3–1 1–0 4–0 2–1 2–0 3–1 0–0 — 3–0 3–1 3–0 0–0
Slovácko 1–2 1–2 1–3 0–2 1–2 0–3 2–2 0–1 2–2 2–0 3–0 0–1 — 0–0 2–1 2–0
Sparta Prague 2–1 3–2 2–0 3–1 2–0 2–2 3–2 1–0 5–2 2–4 2–1 1–1 5–2 — 2–2 3–1
Teplice 3–0 0–0 0–1 0–1 2–0 1–1 2–3 1–3 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–0 0–1 — 1–3
Zlín 0–1 1–1 1–2 0–3 1–3 1–0 3–2 5–0 1–1 2–2 3–0 1–3 1–1 0–3 3–2 —
Source: Chance Liga
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
For upcoming matches, an "a" indicates there is an article about the rivalry between the two participants.

Championship group

[edit]

Points and goals were carried over in full from the regular season.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation SLA SPA PLZ HKR JAB LIB
1 Slavia Prague (C) 35 24 8 3 74 31 +43 80 Qualification for the Champions League league phase — 0–3[a] 3–0 — 5–1 —
2 Sparta Prague 35 23 7 5 69 34 +35 76 Qualification for the Champions League third qualifying round — — 0–0 2–1 2–0 —
3 Viktoria Plzeň 35 18 9 8 60 38 +22 63 Qualification for the Europa League play-off round — — — 3–1 5–0 2–0
4 Hradec Králové 35 16 8 11 50 41 +9 56 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round 3–1 — — — — 1–0
5 Jablonec 35 16 7 12 45 47 −2 55 Qualification for the Conference League second qualifying round — — — 1–1 — 2–1
6 Slovan Liberec 35 12 10 13 45 39 +6 46 1–2 0–2 — — — —
Source: Chance Liga
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Rules for classification: 1) Total points; 2) Points earned in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points (regular season); 4) Head-to-head goal difference (regular season); 5) Head-to-head goals scored (regular season); 5) Goal difference (all matches); 6) Goals scored (all matches); 7) Fair-play ranking; 8) Draw.
(C) Champions

Middle group

[edit]

Teams will play a group for placement. The group winner will receive a financial bonus (3 mil. CZK) and will be rewarded with a favorable starting position in the 2026–27 Czech Cup.[42]

First roundSecond round
          
 
Bohemians 1905123
 
Sigma Olomouc (a.e.t.)31 4
Karviná101
 
Sigma Olomouc34 7
Karviná (a.e.t.)134
Pardubice21 3

Relegation group

[edit]

Points and goals were carried over in full from the regular season.

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation TEP ZLN MLA SLO OST DUK
11 Teplice 35 10 12 13 40 42 −2 42 — — — 1–1 2–1 2–0
12 Zlín 35 11 8 16 43 56 −13 41 2–4 — — 1–0 — 2–1
13 Mladá Boleslav 35 9 13 13 49 57 −8 40 0–2 1–1 — — — 1–2
14 Slovácko (O) 35 7 9 19 30 51 −21 30 Qualification for the relegation play-offs — — 0–3 — 2–1 —
15 Baník Ostrava (O) 35 7 8 20 32 49 −17 29 — 2–0 0–0 — — —
16 Dukla Prague (R) 35 5 11 19 23 51 −28 26 Relegation to FNL — — — 0–1 0–3 —
Source: Chance Liga
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
Rules for classification: 1) Total points; 2) Points earned in regular season; 3) Head-to-head points (regular season); 4) Head-to-head goal difference (regular season); 5) Head-to-head goals scored (regular season); 5) Goal difference (all matches); 6) Goals scored (all matches); 7) Fair-play ranking; 8) Draw.
(O) Play-off winners; (R) Relegated

Relegation play-offs

[edit]

Teams placed 14th and 15th in the relegation group faced the teams placed 2nd and 3rd in the Czech National Football League for two spots in the next season.

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Artis Brno 1−7 Slovácko 1–4 0−3
Baník Ostrava 8–0 Táborsko 3–0 5–0

Season statistics

[edit]

Top scorers

[edit]

Final standings[43]

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Czech Republic Tomáš Chorý Slavia 17
2 Czech Republic Vojtěch Patrák Pardubice 13
Slovakia Lukáš Haraslín Sparta
Czech Republic Mojmír Chytil Slavia
5 Czech Republic Jan Kuchta Sparta 12
Slovakia Dávid Krčík Karviná / Plzeň
7 Czech Republic Vladimír Darida Hradec Králové 11
Kosovo Albion Rrahmani Sparta
9 Czech Republic Jan Chramosta Jablonec 10
Czech Republic Ondřej Mihálik Hradec Králové

Hat-tricks

[edit]
MatchweekDatePlayerForAgainstResult
517 August 2025Nigeria Football Federation Solomon JohnMladá BoleslavHradec Králové3–2 (H)[44]
319 August 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic Denis VišinskýPlzeňMladá Boleslav5–0 (A)[45]
1623 November 2025Nigeria Football Federation Emmanuel AyaosiKarvináHradec Králové4–3 (H)[46]
1914 December 2025Football Association of the Czech Republic Stanislav PetrutaZlínOlomouc5–0 (H)[47]
258 March 2026Football Association of the Czech Republic Václav JurečkaOstravaZlín6–2 (H)[48]

Clean sheets

[edit]

Final standings[49]

Rank Player Club Clean sheets
1 Football Association of the Czech Republic Adam Zadražil Hradec Králové 12
2 Football Association of the Czech Republic Tomáš Koubek Liberec 11
Football Association of the Czech Republic Matouš Trmal Teplice
4 Football Association of the Czech Republic Jan Hanuš Jablonec 10
Austrian Football Association Florian Wiegele Plzeň
6 Football Association of the Czech Republic Jan Koutný Olomouc 9
Football Association of the Czech Republic Jiří Floder Mladá Boleslav
Football Association of the Czech Republic Stanislav Dostál Zlín
Football Association of the Czech Republic Michal Jedlička Plzeň / Ostrava
10 Danish Football Association Peter Vindahl Sparta 7
Football Association of the Czech Republic Jakub Markovič Slavia

Attendances

[edit]

Czech First League clubs listed by average home league attendance:[50]

Pos Club Average
attendance
1Sparta Praha16,758
2Slavia Praha16,351
3Viktoria Plzeň9,119
4Baník Ostrava8,655
5Hradec Králové6,340
6Bohemians5,237
7Sigma Olomouc5,226
8Slovan Liberec4,224
9FK Teplice4,220
101. FC Slovácko4,054
11Dukla Praha3,657
12FC Zlín3,365
13FK Jablonec2,976
14FK Pardubice2,631
15MFK Karviná2,426
16Mladá Boleslav2,041

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ↑ Match was abandoned at 3–2 to Slavia Prague in stoppage time after Slavia fans stormed the pitch.[40] On 12 May, the League Football Association awarded a 3–0 win to Sparta.[41]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Smrkovský, Lukáš (15 June 2026). "Etická komise FAČR vyloučila Karvinou z první ligy kvůli ovlivňování zápasů". ČT24 (in Czech). Czech Television. Czech News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 "Karviná stáhla odvolání, putuje do druhé ligy". ČT Sport (in Czech). Czech Television. Czech News Agency. 28 June 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Grémium schválilo termínovou listinu pro další sezonu. Řešily se nové platby solidarity UEFA či pomoc Opavě" (in Czech). League Football Association. 2024-12-02.
  4. 1 2 "Na podzim o zápas navíc. Fotbal zná termíny pro další sezonu". Sport.cz (in Czech). 2024-12-02.
  5. ↑ "Fotbalisté Zlína se po roční pauze vrátí do nejvyšší soutěže" (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 2025-05-07.
  6. ↑ "Club info Bohemians 1905". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  7. ↑ "Club info FK Dukla Praha". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  8. ↑ "Club info FC Hradec Králové". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  9. ↑ "Club info FK Jablonec". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  10. ↑ "Club info MFK Karviná". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  11. ↑ "Club info FC Slovan Liberec". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  12. ↑ "Club info FK Mladá Boleslav". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  13. ↑ "Club info SK Sigma Olomouc". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  14. ↑ "Club info FC Baník Ostrava". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  15. ↑ "Club info FK Pardubice". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  16. ↑ "Club info FC Viktoria Plzeň". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  17. ↑ "Club info SK Slavia Praha". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  18. ↑ "Club info 1. FC Slovácko". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  19. ↑ "Club info AC Sparta Praha". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  20. ↑ "Club info FK Teplice". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  21. ↑ "Fotbalisty Mladé Boleslavi povede trenér Majer, v první lize bude debutovat". České noviny (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 2025-06-02.
  22. ↑ "Kameník se podle očekávání stal novým trenérem Slovácka". České noviny (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 2025-06-05.
  23. ↑ "Dánský trenér Priske po roce znovu povede fotbalisty Sparty". České noviny (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 2025-06-08.
  24. ↑ "Duklu po Radovi podle očekávání převzal trenér Holoubek". České noviny (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 2025-06-16.
  25. 1 2 "Plzeň je bez kouče, Koubek po neúspěších a blamáži s nováčkem skončil. Přijde Hyský?". Aktuálně.cz (in Czech). Economia. Czech News Agency. 29 September 2025. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  26. 1 2 Fejgl, Jiří (29 September 2025). "Střihavka po další remíze končí. Pardubice volí domácí řešení, bude jen dočasné?". Blesk (in Czech). Czech News Center. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  27. ↑ Zamastil, Zdeněk (11 October 2025). "Hapal končí v Baníku a míří ke konkurenci". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Czech News Agency. Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  28. ↑ Hekele, David (12 October 2025). "Ostravský Baník má trenéra. Hapala na Bazalech nahradil exreprezentant Galásek". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
  29. 1 2 "Pardubice mají nového trenéra! Trousil nahradil Krejčího, jenž s týmem slavil první výhru". eFotbal.cz (in Czech). Czech News Agency. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  30. 1 2 Hekele, David (15 October 2025). "Hyského podle očekávání v Karviné nahradil Jarolím: Pomyslná meta, řekl trenér". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  31. 1 2 "Plzeň má nového trenéra, Hyský podepsal s Viktorií tříletou smlouvu". ČT Sport (in Czech). Czech Television. Czech News Agency. 15 October 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  32. ↑ Fojtík, Petr (3 November 2025). "Slovácko na rozcestí. Trenér Kameník skončil, tým přebírá Šumulikoski. A co dál?". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Mafra. Retrieved 3 November 2025.
  33. ↑ Kopl, Libor (18 November 2025). "Slovácko už má nového trenéra. Tým přebírá Skuhravý, v premiéře vyzve Zlín". Deník (in Czech). Vltava Labe Media. Retrieved 18 November 2025.
  34. ↑ Kvasnica, Michal; Fantyš, Petr (10 February 2026). "Holoubek oficiálně končí v Dukle. Náhrada? Spekuluje se o třech trenérech". Blesk (in Czech). Czech News Center. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  35. ↑ Malý, Jan (12 February 2026). "Dukla vybrala nového trenéra". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  36. 1 2 Vaculík, Vojtěch; Tomaškovič, Jiří (16 February 2026). "Galásek už není trenérem Baníku, střídá ho Smetana". Sport.cz (in Czech). Borgis. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  37. 1 2 Havlíček, Václav (12 March 2026). "Porážka s Pardubicemi a konec. Olomouc odvolala Janotku, mužstvo přebírá Hapal". iDNES.cz (in Czech). Mafra. Czech News Agency. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  38. 1 2 Bartoníček, Přemysl (26 April 2026). "Potvrzeno, Baník má nového trenéra. Nešlo čekat, museli jsme jednat, zní z klubu". eFotbal.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 26 April 2026.
  39. ↑ "Herní model". Chance Liga (in Czech). Retrieved 2025-06-10.
  40. ↑ "Fans storm pitch, Prague derby abandoned with Slavia seconds from title". Reuters. 2026-05-09.
  41. ↑ "Maximální pokuta pro Slavii a čtyři zápasy bez diváků. Sparta vyhrála kontumačně". iDNES.cz. 2026-05-12. Retrieved 2026-05-12.
  42. ↑ "Liga zná termín derby. Sparta se znovu vydá na Slavii". Sport.cz (in Czech). 2026-04-22. Retrieved 2026-04-22.
  43. ↑ "Statistiky: Hráči". Chance Liga.
  44. ↑ "Solomon John". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-08-17.
  45. ↑ "Denis Višinský". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-08-19.
  46. ↑ "Emmanuel Ayaosi". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  47. ↑ "Stanislav Petruta". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2025-11-23.
  48. ↑ "Václav Jurečka". Chance Liga. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  49. ↑ "Statistiky: Brankáři". Chance Liga.
  50. ↑ https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/avecze.htm
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