Conference League final
In all competitions where lots are used, there are clubs who are happy with the teams and groups they have been drawn to, while others get opponents they would have preferred to avoid even more. Sparta Prague and Brøndby Copenhagen had an extremely hard time in the group stage of the Europa League.
Olympique Lyon have assembled a team that really belongs in the Champions League. The French have therefore secured the group victory in a commanding manner. The runner-up has also already been determined. Glasgow Rangers will also spend the winter in the Europa League. There is not much room left for Sparta and Brøndby.
Therefore, the direct duel on Thursday will decide who will be relegated to the Conference League in third place and whose European adventure will end after the group stage. Currently, the Czechs have four points, two more than the Danes. Therefore, it is not difficult to make a prediction on the elimination of the Danish champions before the match between Sparta Prague and Brøndby Copenhagen.
A draw is enough for the team from the golden city to be safely third. So the Danes are under pressure and forced to play to win. That could play into the hands of the home side, who may be able to counterattack in their own stadium.
Sparta Prague – Statistics & current form
Sparta Prague almost permanently reel off one English week after the other. Now this is not a unique selling point of the Czechs, but it is clear that it eventually gets to the substance. Perhaps that is also a reason why Pavel Vrba’s team is having problems away from home at the moment. At least things are going quite well in the Generali Arena.
Home strength as a big plus
There have been three wins in a row at home recently. In the past ten home games, Sparta have only suffered a narrow defeat against Olympique Lyon. Therefore, the Czechs will also rely on their home strength in this important match on Thursday. We also think that you should do well with the odds on a home win between Sparta Prague and Brøndby Kopenhagen.
Last weekend, however, there was once again a win away from home. Sparta won 2-1 at bottom side MFK Karvina in the Czech league. The game was still goalless at the break, but after an hour Matej Pulkrab put his colours 1-0 ahead. Lukas Haraslin added the 2:0 before Karvina scored the final goal in the closing stages.
Pavel Vrba’s side will be without a number of key players for Thursday’s Conference League match. The absence of veteran Ondrej Celustka in particular is likely to have a negative impact on the defence. Casper Höjer, Adam Gabriel, Matej Polidar, Jakub Pesek and Lukas Julis are also missing.
Predicted line-up of Sparta Prague:
Holec – Hancko, Krejci, Panak, Wiesner – Sacek, Pavelka – Haraslin, Karabec, Moberg Karlsson – Hlozek – Coach: Vrba
Last matches played by Sparta Prague:
1st League
12/04 2021 – MFK Karviná 1 – 2 Sp. Prague
11/28 2021 – Sp. Prague 2 – 1 Slovan Liberec
Europa League Grp. A
11/25 2021 – Rangers 2 – 0 Sp. Prague
1st League
11/21 2021 – Slovacko 4 – 0 Sp. Prague
11/07 2021 – Sp. Prague 4 – 2 Teplice
Brøndby Copenhagen – Statistics & current form
Niels Frederiksen’s side are in for a tough week. The Danish Superligaen, in which the reigning champions currently lie in third place, is currently on break. But within four days, they are threatened with elimination from the European Cup and the Danish Cup. The next two games will show whether Brøndby are still only dancing at a wedding.
Three away wins in a row
Hopes rest mainly on the away strength shown recently, however, as Copenhagen won their last three away games, including in the Superligaen at league leaders Midtjylland. The recently discovered strength away from home could be a reason to predict a win for the Danes in the duel between Sparta Prague and Brøndby Kopenhagen.
Last weekend FC Midtjylland took revenge for their defeat in the league. The first leg in the cup quarter-finals was on the agenda. In their own stadium, Brøndby delivered a minus performance and could thank young keeper Mads Hermansen that they only lost 0:1 in the end and do not travel hopelessly to the return match this weekend.
With the exception of young Rasmus Wikström, all players should be fit for action on Thursday. However, after Niels Frederiksen was not satisfied with his team’s performance at the weekend, we think it is conceivable that there could be positional changes. Blas Riveros, Mathias Greve, Oskar Fallenius or Marko Divkovic are the first options for the starting eleven.
Predicted line-up of Brøndby Kopenhagen:
Hermansen – Maxsö, Heggheim, Rosted – Radosevic – Frendrup, Slimane, Mensah, Bruus – Uhre, Hedlund – Coach: Frederiksen
Last matches played by Brøndby Kopenhagen:
Danish Cup
12/05 2021 – Brøndby Copenhagen 0 – 2 FC Midtjylland
Superleague
11/28 2021 – Brøndby Copenhagen 1 – 0 Randers FC
Europa League Grp. A
11/25 2021 – Brøndby Copenhagen 1 – 3 Lyon
Superleague
11/21 2021 – FC Midtjylland 1 – 2 Brøndby Copenhagen
11/07 2021 – Brøndby Kopenhagen 2 – 1 Odense BK
Sparta Prague – Brøndby Copenhagen Direct comparison / H2H record
The first leg was the first meeting between Sparta Prague and Brøndby Kopenhagen. Therefore, the direct comparison does not provide any great insights. At Brøndby Stadion, the Danish champions did not manage more than a goalless draw. If it is not enough for a three-goal win at home, an away win should not be expected on Thursday.
Sparta Prague – Brøndby Kopenhagen Tip
It’s all or nothing. The Czechs certainly have the better chances of at least continuing in the Conference League, and a draw on Thursday will be enough to secure third place. In the last ten home games, Pavel Vrba’s team has only lost once, against Olympique Lyon.
Therefore, there is not much to suggest that the Czechs will be eliminated. However, the Danes know their strength on the opponent’s pitch. After all, they have won three times in a row away from home.
We can also imagine that both teams will score, because the Danes have to act offensively anyway and should Sparta fall behind, the Czechs would increase the pressure. However, we decided to play the odds on a home win in the match between Sparta Prague and Brøndby Kopenhagen
