Sparta Prague will meet Atletico Madrid for the first time in their respective histories on Tuesday, both teams under pressure to secure a positive result as they face off in the 2024-25 Champions League.
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Atletico are sitting in 23rd place with just six points from four games, while Sparta are one spot lower in 26th, with four points from their opening four matches.
Sparta had an impressive start to the group stage, winning 3-0 against Red Bull Salzburg and drawing 1-1 with Stuttgart, but their form has since dipped. They suffered heavy defeats to Manchester City (5-0) and Brest (2-1), leaving them with four points, still one behind PSV Eindhoven in the race for a playoff spot.
Sparta are also struggling in domestic competition, with four consecutive winless games, and sit fourth in the Czech First League, 11 points behind leaders Slavia Prague.
Despite their struggles, Sparta has had a decent home record against Spanish teams in the Champions League, winning three of their last four matches. They will need to build on that to stand a chance against Atletico, who have been inconsistent in Europe this season. Atletico have recorded six points from their four Champions League games, but they have also lost to Benfica and Lille, leaving them in a perilous position.
On the domestic front, Atletico are on a solid run, winning their last five matches, including a 2-1 victory over Alaves on Saturday. They currently sit second in La Liga, just five points behind leaders Barcelona. Atletico also secured a crucial win in the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain, but their overall performance has been disappointing, with only five goals scored in their four group-stage matches.
The Madrid side will be looking to bounce back after their shaky start to the campaign. They are a team accustomed to Champions League success, having reached the final in both 2014 and 2016, and with 9 of the last 11 campaigns seeing them reach the knockout rounds, it would be a major shock if they were eliminated at this stage.
Team News:
Sparta Prague will be without Veljko Birmancevic (thigh) and Angelo Preciado (knee) for this clash, but have no new injury concerns. Forward Victor Olatunji, with eight goals this season, will be a key figure for the Czech side. Albion Rrahmani, who has contributed four goals and an assist, is also expected to play a major role in attack.
Atletico Madrid’s injury list is more concerning. Thomas Lemar remains sidelined with a muscle problem, and Robin Le Normand is doubtful after a serious head injury. Nahuel Molina, who missed the Alaves game due to injury, is another major doubt. On a positive note, Marcos Llorente and Cesar Azpilicueta have returned to fitness, and coach Diego Simeone is likely to make several changes, with Julian Alvarez, Rodrigo De Paul, Jose Gimenez, and Conor Gallagher all in line for starting spots.
Predicted Lineups:
Sparta Prague: Vindahl; Vitik, Panak, Cobbaut; Wiesner, Laci, Kairinen, Rynes; Pesek, Olatunji, Rrahmani
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Azpilicueta, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Llorente, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
Sparta Prague will certainly make things difficult for Atletico, especially given their Champions League struggles this season. However, Atletico’s recent domestic form and quality should see them edge out the home side and move closer to securing qualification from the group.
