Sparta Praha returned to the Champions League after a two-decade absence, having last featured in the 2005/06 season.
It has been a rough start for the Czechs, who only registered four points in four games so far. The Spartans started their European campaign with a victory against RB Salzburg (3-1) and drew against Stuttgart (1-1).
Things unraveled quickly after those early results. They were demolished by Manchester City (5-0) and followed that with a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Brest, leaving their European hopes hanging by a thread.
Things aren’t going smoothly on the domestic front either. Sparta suffered a stinging defeat in the Praha Derby to their eternal rival Slavia Praha (2-1).
Sparta sit fourth in the Czech First League with 27 points, trailing leaders Slavia by fourteen points. Sparta also lost to second-placed Viktoria Plzeň (0-1), while third-placed Bánik won against Sparta in Prague (1-3). Sparta haven’t won a match in over a month, drawing against Teplice (1-1) and Mladá Boleslav (2-2) in their recent fixtures.
To make matters worse, injuries have depleted their squad, with Jaroslav Zelený, Imanol García de Albéniz, Angelo Preciado, Veljko Birmančević, and Roman Mokrocevics all sidelined.
Atlético de Madrid secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Deportivo Alavés. They conceded an early penalty converted by Guiridi in the seventh minute. However, Antoine Griezmann leveled the score from the spot in the 76th minute. Alexander Sørloth finished the job as he scored the winner seven minutes later.
This fifth consecutive victory elevates Diego Simeone’s team to third place in La Liga, just one point behind Real Madrid and five behind Barcelona.
The match also featured Giuliano Simeone, the manager’s son, who replaced Samuel Lino in the second half. Giuliano has become one of the team’s standout players in recent matches.
However, not all is well defensively for Atlético. Javi Galán and Clément Lenglet continue to struggle, posing a significant concern for Simeone as he looks to tighten the team’s defensive structure.
Atlético de Madrid have struggled in Europe so far, despite debuting with a victory against RB Leipzig (2-1). Los Colchoneros were demolished by Benfica (4-0) and suffered a 3-1 loss against Lille.
Despite these setbacks, Atlético showed their trademark grit by bouncing back with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain, keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.
Bet hereSparta Praha may lack individual brilliance and cohesion compared to more seasoned Champions League teams, but they shouldn’t be underestimated as the hosts.
Atlético de Madrid often struggle away from home in Europe, which could be an issue in this match. However, Diego Simeone’s team is expected to come out victorious, bolstered by an undefeated run of five games across all competitions.
The 2-1 victory in Paris demonstrated the team’s potential, although Julian Álvarez continues to find his feet in Simeone’s setup.
Simeone’s tactical flexibility was evident in the recent match against Deportivo Alavés, where he opted to pair Antoine Griezmann with Ángel Correa up front, leaving Álvarez on the bench. While the duo delivered key moments, Correa struggled to carve out space against a compact Alavés defense, raising questions about Atlético’s fluidity in the final third.
Atlético face a dilemma as Ángel Correa and Julian Álvarez compete for the role of partnering Antoine Griezmann in attack. However, neither has fully convinced Diego Simeone this season, raising questions about who will join Griezmann in the starting XI.
While it’s not the Frenchman’s best season, he remains a reliable scorer, crucial to the team’s success.
Against Sparta Praha, Griezmann is expected to lead the line and carry the creative and goal-scoring burden, making him a strong candidate to get on the scoresheet.
Disclaimer: The content provided on this page, including all football predictions, odds, and related information, is for entertainment and informational purposes only. While we strive to ensure accuracy and timeliness, we do not guarantee the correctness or reliability of any predictions, data, or information presented here.
Make sure to bet on Sparta Praha vs Atlético de Madrid with our 22Bet Sportsbook!
Bet hereDate and Time: December 28, 2024, 19:45 GMT+1 Venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy Lazio vs…
Date and Time: Saturday, December 28, 18:00 GMT+1 Venue: Unipol Domus, Cagliari, Italy Cagliari Cagliari…
Date and Time: Suturday, December 28, 14:00 GMT+1 Venue: Carlo Castellani, Empoli, Italy Empoli vs…
Date and Time: Sunday, December 29, 2024, 17:00 GMT+1 Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin, Italy Juventus…
Date and Time: Sunday, December 29, 2024, 4 PM GMT+1 Venue: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England…
Date and Time: December 27, 2024, 20:15 GMT+1 Venue: Emirates Stadium, London, England Arsenal vs…
This website uses cookies.