Having come away from the Danish capital with a creditable 0-0 draw to their name, Sparta Prague host Copenhagen at Stadion Letna on Tuesday for the second leg of their Champions League third-round qualifying battle.
There was no way through for either side when they met on Scandinavian soil last week, leaving Sparta in with a terrific shout of ending their recent third-round hoodoo ahead of a possible playoff tie with Aris Limassol or Rakow Czestochowa.
Match preview
© Reuters
Having ended a miserable nine-year streak without a Czech top-flight crown to their name last season, Sparta Prague began their quest for a place in the Champions League proper last week, where many had written them off before they stepped foot onto the Parken Stadium turf.
Brian Priske's side would manage just three shots on target throughout the entire match, but Copenhagen's profligacy also came back to bite them, as the Maroons travelled back to base on the back of a hard-fought stalemate - one which would have certainly left Priske the happier manager.
The smile on the Danish-born coach's face would have only beamed brighter when Sparta took on Jablonec in their top-flight encounter on Saturday, as his side strolled to a 5-1 win away from home to make it four out of four in the 2023-24 campaign so far.
Individual masterclasses were aplenty at the weekend, as Martin Vitik netted twice from the back, Qazim Laci chalked up a trio of assists, while Kaan Kairinen scored one goal and set up two more as Sparta netted five times during a scintillating first-half performance.
That five-star drubbing sets Sparta up nicely for the second leg as they endeavour to avoid a fifth-straight elimination in the third round of Champions League qualifying - two of which have come after the Maroons had drawn the first leg - but a first group-stage appearance since 2005-06 is certainly a realistic aim.
© Reuters
After putting eight goals past Icelandic minnows Briedablik in the second qualifying round, Copenhagen had no answer to Sparta's defensive might, as their 100% start to the new season domestically and continentally came to an abrupt end.
The Lions did revert to type with a Danish Superliga victory at the weekend - one which keeps them at the summit of the Danish Superliga standings - but it was not one for the highlight reel by any stretch, as Jacob Neestrup's side came from behind to sink OB 2-1.
Copenhagen's dominance counted for nought as Charly Horneman propelled OB into the lead with 57 minutes gone, but substitute Lukas Lerager drew his side level just three minutes after his introduction, before a 90th-minute winner from Elias Achouri completed a last-gasp turnaround.
Now returning to the road after a four-game homestand, Copenhagen head to Prague having prevailed in each of their last six competitive away matches in all competitions - netting at least two goals in all but one of those contests - and they have suffered just one third-round exit in the past 15 years of European Cup qualifying.
However, that elimination did come after they had drawn the first leg - falling to Red Star's penalty-spot superiority in the 2019-20 edition - although their only previous trip to face Sparta Prague in the 2009-10 Europa League group stage ended in a comprehensive 3-0 triumph.
- W
- W
- W
- D
- W
Team News
© Reuters
Sparta Prague lost defender Asger Sorensen to injury in the first leg of their clash with Copenhagen, but the 27-year-old made a rapid recovery in time for the thrashing of Jablonec, where fellow defender Vitik marked his return to the first XI in style.
The 20-year-old will surely keep his place in the starting lineup thanks to his two-goal haul at the weekend, stepping in for Filip Panak - who missed Saturday's success for unexplained reasons - but changes will be afoot further up the field.
Jan Kuchta and Lukas Haraslin should both return to the final third, but Veljko Birmancevic's spot may come under threat, as the 25-year-old sat out the victory over Jablonec after lasting for only an hour in Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, Copenhagen remain without well-travelled striker Andreas Cornelius (groin), centre-back Davit Khocholava (knee) for the trip to the Czech Republic, but midfielder Viktor Claesson has now made a full recovery from an injury of his own.
Neestrup's side came through their slender success over OB unscathed, and a recall should almost certainly be in order for Lerager, who could benefit from a cautious approach to Claesson's fitness.
Despite netting a treble in a 6-3 win over Breidablik, 18-year-old Orri Oskarsson was demoted to the bench for last week's first leg and also failed to impact his side's win over OB, so Jordan Larsson may be given the nod up top here.
Sparta Prague possible starting lineup:
Vindahl Jensen; Vitik, Sorensen, Krejci; Wiesner, Kairinen, Laci, Zeleny; Sadilek, Kuchta, Haraslin
Copenhagen possible starting lineup:
Grabara; Jelert, Vavro, Diks, Sorensen; Lerager, Falk, Goncalves; Achouri, Larsson, Elyounoussi
We say: Sparta Prague 1-1 Copenhagen (a.e.t, Sparta to win on penalties)
Sparta's dogged defensive display in the first leg was all well and good, but the Czech champions will likely have to show more attacking intent if they are to keep their European dream alive, which could leave them susceptible to a goal-happy Copenhagen.
While we feel that there will be a couple of goals in this contest, it is still too difficult to pick an outright winner, but with the Prague crowd behind them, Sparta can progress from 12 yards to move one step closer to the group phase.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Ben Knapton
