Halfway through the current Champions League group stage, Sparta Prague’s hopes of advancing are nearly gone. They are ranked 26th, just one point short of the 24th position needed for a play-off spot.
After starting strong with a win and a draw in their first two games, they have suffered heavy losses, including a 5-0 defeat to Manchester City and a 2-1 loss to Brest.
Domestically, the reigning Czech champions are also struggling, sitting in 4th place in the league. They have had two losses and a draw in their last three matches and will aim to bounce back with a home game against low-ranked Teplice on Saturday.
Atlético Madrid, who reached the quarter-finals last season, are in 23rd place, just above Sparta Prague. The Spanish club had a tough start, losing 4-0 to Benfica and 3-1 at home to Lille. However, they managed a dramatic 2-1 victory against PSG, keeping their hopes alive in the competition.
Atlético Madrid is now focusing on maintaining their strong domestic form. They are in 3rd place in La Liga, just one point behind Real Madrid and seven points behind leaders Barcelona. They will face Alavés on Saturday, looking to extend their four-match winning streak across all competitions.
Sparta Prague is dealing with a long list of injuries. Key defenders Vitik and Sörensen, left-back Zeleny, midfielder Preciado, forward Birmancevic (who has scored six goals in all competitions), winger Haraslin, and Kosovar international Krasniqi are all sidelined.
Spanish full-back Garcia de Albeniz is also out for the Champions League. Olatunji, their top scorer in Europe, will be crucial for their attack, having found the net in both the first and fourth matchdays.
Atlético Madrid also has injury concerns. Defender Azpilicueta and versatile player Llorente are returning to fitness. Lemar and Le Normand joined the injury list after the last match, and their availability is uncertain.
However, key players such as Griezmann, who has one goal and two assists in the Champions League, Alvarez (one goal), midfielder De Paul, and goalkeeper Oblak remain vital to their success. Gimenez, who missed previous matches due to suspension, will be back in the lineup.
Prediction
Sparta Prague has struggled at home, conceding in each of their last seven matches and failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five home games. Although they have scored in every home match this season, their overall form has been poor, with 11 losses in their last 15 league games.
In contrast, Atlético Madrid, despite some inconsistencies, have won eight of their last 11 Champions League fixtures. Given their superior form, Atlético Madrid is expected to dominate this match.
Prediction: Sparta Prague 0 – 2 Atlético Madrid.
