**Zlín’s winless start (0 points from five matches) and defensive vulnerabilities have positioned the club as an early frontrunner for the relegation group in the 2026–27 Chance Liga.** Newly promoted sides Artis Brno and the returning Zbrojovka Brno, alongside established strugglers Pardubice and Slovácko, also sit in the bottom four after the opening rounds, carrying minimal points and negative goal differences that increase their exposure in the eventual relegation-phase fixtures. The league’s split format—where teams 11th–16th enter the relegation group and the bottom two face play-outs against second-division sides—amplifies the importance of avoiding early deficits. Historical patterns show that clubs with poor regular-season records rarely recover once the groups form, while mid-table sides like Teplice and Bohemians retain safer buffers. Trader consensus reflects these opening results, with the weakest starters priced as the most likely to occupy the direct-relegation and play-out spots by season’s end.