Two groups that progressed by way of the play-offs meet on Matchday 1 of the 2024/25 Champions League as Sparta Prague tackle Salzburg within the Czechian capital.
Each side endured loads of work over the summer time to e book their respective locations within the all-new 36-team league part, with Salzburg overcoming Dynamo Kyiv and Sparta toppling Malmo within the remaining spherical of qualifying to get their names within the hat.
Salzburg, who are actually led by Jurgen Klopp’s former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, have endured a reasonably gradual begin to their home marketing campaign, they usually at present sit seventh in a division they’ve totally dominated over the previous decade.
The Austrians, nevertheless, have an amazing likelihood to begin their Champions League marketing campaign in a productive trend their fixture checklist. Issues get actually robust down the stretch, so early factors are required.
Their first recreation away at Sparta will probably be removed from a stroll within the park, although. Wednesday’s hosts have loved an unbeaten begin to the brand new marketing campaign, they usually’re able to make a splash throughout their first Champions League look for the reason that 2005/06 season.
Here is 90min’s preview of Salzburg’s journey to Sparta Prague.
Sparta Prague vs Salzburg H2H Report (All Video games)
Present kind (all competitions)
Sparta Prague | Salzburg |
|---|---|
Hradec Kralove 0-2 Sparta Prague – 31/08/24 | Fast Wien 3-2 Salzburg – 01/09/24 |
Sparta Prague 2-0 Malmo – 27/08/24 | Salzburg 1-1 Dynamo Kyiv – 27/08/24 |
Sparta Prague 2-2 Slovacko – 24/08/24 | Dynamo Kyiv 0-2 Salzburg – 21/08/24 |
Malmo 0-2 Sparta Prague – 21/08/24 | LASK 0-1 Salzburg – 17/08/24 |
Jablonec 1-2 Sparta Prague – 17/08/24 | Twente 3-3 Salzburg – 13/08/24 |
Nation | TV channel/reside stream |
|---|---|
United Kingdom | discovery+, discovery+ App, TNT Sports activities 5 |
United States | Paramount+, ViX |
Canada | DAZN |
Jakub Pesek and Roman Mokrovics are each uncertain for Sparta’s Champions League opener with knocks, whereas Imanol Garcia de Albeniz is a long-term absentee with a knee damage.
24-year-old Albion Rrahmani has emerged as Sparta’s foremost man in assault, with the striker ably supported by skilled Slovakian worldwide Lukas Haraslin.
Sparta Prague predicted lineup vs Salzburg (3-4-3): Vindahl-Jensen; Vitik, Panak, Sorensen; Wiesner, Kairinen, Laci, Rynes; Krasniqi, Rrahmani, Haraslin.
The guests have not had one of the best of luck on the damage entrance at the beginning of the brand new season, they usually could possibly be with out a number of gamers for Wednesday’s Champions League opener.
Extremely-regarded ahead Karim Konate set to overlook out as he is at present nursing a knee ligament pressure. Maurits Kjærgaard is ready to overlook the rest of the season after selecting up an Achilles damage earlier this month, whereas Fernando and Takumu Kawamura are additionally poised for prolonged durations out.
Daouda Guindo is a doubt with a foot damage.
Salzburg predicted lineup vs Sparta Prague (4-3-3): Blaswich; Dedic, Baidoo, Piatkowski, Mellberg; Diambou, Gourna-Douath, Gloukh; Dorgeles, Ratkov, Yeo.
Lijnders looks as if an amazing match for this Salzburg facet, they usually may spring a shock or two on this competitors because the league part progresses. Nonetheless, the guests head into Wednesday’s recreation with a number of notable accidents having suffered their first defeat of the younger season earlier than the worldwide break.
Sparta thrive on residence soil, and a vivacious fanbase will probably be notably fervent for the membership’s first Champions League outing in 18 years.
This ought to be a hardly-fought and aggressive contest that would go both method, however we’ll again the hosts to win by a slender margin.
