Sparta Prague vs Salzburg Match Analysis & Prediction
18/09/2024 7:45 pm
Sparta Prague play host to RB Salzburg in the Czech capital on matchday one of the new league phase in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Sparta qualifying for the Champions League after 19 years away is a big factor, as they will play their first game at this level since a goalless draw with FC Thun back in 2005.
They have had to endure some dark days before getting back to the top level, losing in qualifying to teams such as Denizlispor, Vaslui, Spartak Subotica and neighbours Zilina from across the Slovakian border.
Lars Friis’ side will also hope to be more competitive against the elite than they were last season, when the Czech side were beaten 11-2 on aggregate by Liverpool in the Europa League.
The Maroons have not lost since that rotten week in March though, which also included a 4-0 defeat at Viktoria Plzen, as they sit top of Czech league with 19 points from seven games.
It was the playoff victory over Malmo which has been the big talking point in the capital over the summer though, as Lukas Haraslin inspired them to overcome the Swidish side 4-0 on aggregate.
The clubs have met previously despite the visitors’ relatively modest European history, in Champions League qualifying in 1997, when the Austrian were known as Wusternrot Salburb, long before the Red Bull takeover and Sparta won 3-0 on aggregate.
That acquisition has transformed the club though, with the Champions League now being familiar territory for Salzburg, who are participating in their sixth straight group/league phase.
Only Shakhtar have equalled that feat from outside Europe’s top-five leagues, but new manager Pep Lijnders will be tasked with taking the next step, and making the club competitive further into European competitions.
Salzburg have only reached the Champions League knockouts once, and that ended with a 7-1 second-leg defeat to Bayern Munich in the last 16 in 2022.
Sparta Prague vs. Salzburg Head to head
In the previous two meetings between these two teams, Salzburg have claimed one victory while they have drawn once.
-
16/01/2023Salzburg2Sparta Prague1Club Friendlies
-
13/07/2024Salzburg2Sparta Prague2Club Friendlies
-
18/09/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
-
18/09/2024N/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
-
18/09/2024Sparta PragueN/ASalzburgN/AChampions League
Sparta Prague Team News
Friis should be able to welcome back wing-back Angelo Preciado after he played for Ecuador during the international break following a brief spell out injured.
Jakub Pasek and Roman Mokrovics are both doubtful for this game, but Spaniard Imanol Garcia is a confirmed absentee after tearing his ACL just 23 minutes into his league debut last month.
Sparta Prague's Last 5 Matches
-
17/08/2024Jablonec1Sparta Prague2Czech Liga
-
21/08/2024Malmo0Sparta Prague2Champions League
-
24/08/2024Sparta Prague2Slovacko2Czech Liga
-
27/08/2024Sparta Prague2Malmo0Champions League
-
31/08/2024Hradec Kralove0Sparta Prague2Czech Liga
Salzburg Team News
Lijnders will hope to have two players he knows very well available to him here in the form of Stefan Bajcetic and Bobby Clark, who are both yet to make their debuts since joining from Liverpool.
Maurits Kjaergaard and Fernando could be sidelined for a while after recent injuries, while Karim Konate and Dacuda Guindo are also not ready to return yet.
Salzburg's Last 5 Matches
-
13/08/2024Twente3Salzburg3Champions League
-
17/08/2024LASK0Salzburg1Bundesliga
-
21/08/2024Dinamo Kiev0Salzburg2Champions League
-
27/08/2024Salzburg1Dinamo Kiev1Champions League
-
01/09/2024Rapid Vienna3Salzburg2Bundesliga
Sparta Prague vs. Salzburg: Odds and Predictions
Main Prediction
Double Chance: Sparta Prague or X
Best Odds
1000% Super Multi Bonus
Up to 10 times (1000%) larger winnings on bets placed during Happy Hour
CLAIM BONUS