Defending Czech league champions Sparta Praha were a part of the Europa League group featuring Cyprus outfit Aris Limassol, Scottish giants Rangers, and Spanish side Real Betis who were expected group favorites. Sparta finished just one point behind group leaders Rangers and were 1 clear of Real Betis despite all three sides boasting the same goal difference of positive two.
Praha began their campaign with a 3-2 triumph over Aris Limassol in the Czech capital with Ladislav Krejci’s brace and Martin Vitik’s 67th-minute goal enough to set them clear in the fixture. Their subsequent fixture saw them rue a late Francisco Alarcon winner in Seville having taken the lead just 3 minutes into the game. Assane Diao canceled out their lead before Isco’s icing on the cake in the 79th minute.
The best they conjured from their dual-legged fixture with Rangers was a point from a goalless draw. They lost the other tie 2-1 following Danilo and Todd Cantwell’s goals in the first 20 minutes. They rounded off their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Betis via Lukas Haraslin and a 3-1 away victory against Aris Limassol to secure their second-place spot.
Turkish outfit Galatasaray were seeded in one of the toughest UEFA Champions League groups alongside FC Bayern Munich, Manchester United football club, and Danish giants FC Koebenhavn.
Following their qualification endeavors against Zalgris Vilnius, Olimpija Ljubljana, and Norwegian outfit Molde. Galatasaray began their campaign leaving it late to secure a 2-2 draw with Koebenhavn as full back Sacha Boey and Tete put 2 past Kamil Grabara in 2 minutes. They garnered their first win on the road to shaky Manchester United. Wilfried Zaha, Kerem Akturkoglu, and Mauro Icardi put 3 into shot-stopper Andre Onana’s goal at Old Trafford. Leaving Rasmus Hojlund’s brace in a tad bit of futility.
Their ensuing games followed successive defeats to the Bavarians in Turkey and Germany. Their remarkable 3-3 draw against United in Turkey from two goals behind was marred by their final matchday 1-nil defeat to FC Koebenhavn. Effectively condemning the side to a third-place finish. Despite the very heavy roster of talented players in their employ. Included are former premier league players Hakim Ziyech, Tanguy Ndombele, Angelino, Wilfried Zaha, Dries Mertens, Mauro Icardi and veterans Kerem Demirbay and Fernando Muslera.
There are no current head-to-head ties between the Czech outfit and Turkish giants. This double-legged affair will be a chance for either Galatasaray SK or Sparta Praha to establish a precedent over their counterpart and secure a spot in the next stages of the 2023/2024 Europa League season.
Match tickets
This big fixture will be held at the epet ARENA in Prague, Czech on Thursday the 22nd of February at 20;00 GMT.
The 18,887-capacity stadium will host this exciting fixture that is still hanging in the balance with a place in the next round at stake.
Getting tickets for the Sparta Praha vs Galatasaray tickets could take a lot of work given the standard of this game. Hence, you are advised to search ticket reselling sites should they be expectedly sold out on each club’s channels.
Team news
Lineups
Brian Priske’s side have no long-term injury worries and will certainly be hoping it continues as they seek to continue their fine form in the competition by piping Galatasaray to get the ticket to the next round.
Former Sassuolo and Slovakian winger Lukas Haraslin will lead the charge upfront for this Czech-based outfit alongside Czech Republic topman Jan Kuchta who has been on fine form this season in terms of goal contributions.
6ft2” defender, Ladislav Krejci, a remarkable threat from setpieces, recalling his brace against Cyprus side Aris Limassol in the group stages, will make a part of the gaffer’s trusted back 3 alongside Asger Sorensen and Filip Panak. In a bid to quench the offense likely to be led by Mauro Icardi and Dries Mertens for Galatasaray.
Sparta Praha XI - Jensen; Sorensen, Panak, Krejci; Wiesner, Sadilek, Kairinen, Rynes; Birmancevic, Haraslin, Kuchta.
Okan Buruk’s side continues to battle it out with an Edin Dzeko and Dusan Tadic-inspired Fenerbahce in the league and aside from their domestic inclinations, they'll have an eye on attaining European glory. Disappointing that they couldn't capitalize on Manchester United’s failures in the most prestigious European club competition at the expense of Koebenhavn.
Galatasaray have recruited in recent years what many have described as a “declining contingent of European footballers”. Former Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain forward Mauro Icardi and ex-Naples talisman Dries Mertens will lead the charge down the middle.
Wilfried Zaha formerly of Crystal Palace, one-time Europa League finalist Hakim Ziyech, Tete, and Kerem Akturkoglu will all fight it out for the spots on the flank. In midfield, Lucas Torreira has made the DM spot his to lose with Sergio Oliveira, Kerem Demirbay, and Tanguy Ndombele battling it out for the spot next to him. Former Tottenham Hotspur central defender Davinson Sanchez will marshall the defence having previously played in the competition's final against Manchester United with Ajax in 2017.
Galatasaray XI - Muslera; Boey, Sanchez, Nelsson, Karatas; Torreira, Demirbay; Zaha, Mertens, Akturkoglu; Icardi
Prediction
Sparta Praha have been in healthy form in the competition but it certainly is going to be an exciting affair. The quality on the books of the Turkish giants makes them favorites and it looks like it's their game to lose headed into these double-legged encounters between the Czech and Turkish outfits.
Sparta Praha 1-2 Galatasaray
