In the second leg of the Champions League's second qualifying round, Czech Republic's top-flight champions Sparta Prague are set to host Shamrock Rovers at epet ARENA on Tuesday.
The home side returned from Ireland after winning 2-0 last week on July 23 against the Irish champions at the Tallaght Stadium.
Match preview
![Coach Lars Friis at the Sparta football press conference before the start of the new season, Prague, 17 July 2024 [on July 20, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/29/lars-friis.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Coach Lars Friis at the Sparta football press conference before the start of the new season, Prague, 17 July 2024 [on July 20, 2024]")
© Imago
The hosts will have been delighted with their strong performance in the first leg, with goals from Veljko Birmancevic and Tomas Wiesner in the 37th and 64th minute respectively giving their team a good advantage.
In that match, Sparta Prague had 69% possession and produced 11 shots, eight of which were on target.
The Reds' win last week was only their second in their last 12 Champions League matches, and was also their only clean sheet in any of their five most recent games.
Manager will Lars Friis will be thrilled with his side's start to the 2024-25 campaign as they have won their first three competitive fixtures so far.
Last time out on July 27, Sparta Prague faced Telpice in their second league game of the domestic season and emerged as 4-1 winners.
Friis will be confident that his side will advance to the third qualifying round considering the last time they lost a competitive match by a margin of at least two goals was against Liverpool in the Europa League on March 14.
![Prague s Indrit Tuci (left) and Shamrock Rovers Johnny Kenny battle for the ball during the second qualifying round first leg match at Tallaght Stadium, Dublin. Picture date: Tuesday 23/07/2024 [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/indrit-tuci-and-johnny-kenny.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Prague s Indrit Tuci (left) and Shamrock Rovers Johnny Kenny battle for the ball during the second qualifying round first leg match at Tallaght Stadium, Dublin. Picture date: Tuesday 23/07/2024 [on July 28, 2024]")
© Imago
On the other hand, opponents Shamrock Rovers' loss last week was their second consecutive defeat and their fourth loss in their last six games.
In the first leg against Sparta Prague, they only produced two shots on target from their total of five attempts and had just 31% possession.
If Rovers are to advance to the next round, then they will have to create history considering they have failed to win any of their eight away games in the Champions League and have only kept three clean sheets in these fixtures.
The last time they beat a side by at least two goals was on May 31 against Drogheda United, and the last time they won by at least three was on April 29 against the same opponent.
Rovers have dropped down to fifth in the top flight, although they still have 34 points from 23 matches, and are not scheduled to play a League of Ireland match until August 2.
Manager Stephen Bradley thought parts of his team's performance against Sparta Prague were promising, and he has insisted that the tie is far from over as long as his side replicate the good aspects of their showing on Tuesday.
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Team News
![Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley during the second qualifying round first leg match at Tallaght Stadium, Dublin. Picture date: Tuesday 23/07/2024. [on July 28, 2024]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/30/stephen-bradley.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley during the second qualifying round first leg match at Tallaght Stadium, Dublin. Picture date: Tuesday 23/07/2024. [on July 28, 2024]")
© Imago
Given that Friis thought his side performed well with the ball last week, he is unlikely to make too many changes from the team that won the first leg.
However, striker Victor Olatunji and winger Ermal Krasniqi both scored in Sparta Prague's 4-1 win against Telpice, and the pair could be subbed on in the second half if gaps open up in the visitors' defence due to their desperation for a goal.
Shamrock Rovers could recall Jack Byrne after he served a suspension in the first leg, while Lee Grace could be an option for boss Bradley.
Elsewhere, midfielder Markus Poom returned to the squad last week but was an unused substitute in his side's loss to Sparta Prague.
Sparta Prague possible starting lineup:
Jensen; Vitik, Ross, Zeleny; Wiesner, Laci, Solbakken, Albeniz; Tuci, Kuchta, Birmancevic
Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pohls; Honohan, Lopes, Cleary; Farrugia, Nugent, Clarke, O'Neill, Byrne; Watts, Kenny
We say: Sparta Prague 2-1 Shamrock Rovers (Sparta win 4-1 on aggregate)
Although Bradley's side will no doubt make the match uncomfortable for Sparta Prague, it is difficult to see how they can recover from their deficit without more of the ball.
Additionally, with Shamrock Rovers likely pushing forward in the latter stage of the match, it would not be a surprise to see them concede chances from counter-attacks.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Lewis Nolan
