Football
Manchester City Vs Sparta Prague Preview, Prediction, Team News And Predicted Lineups
Ben Horlock is a sports news and features writer who holds a degree in sports journalism (BA Hons) from Southampton Solent University. Ben has been published across a wide variety of news outlets and websites including HITC, 90min, GiveMeSport, Betfair and Zoo Magazine. As well, Ben has worked in social media for four years in the sports gambling industry. For his sins, Ben is a QPR fan and is a keen follower of all the major European football leagues.
Get to know Ben Horlock betterPublished5 hours ago on October 22, 2024
Ahead of Wednesday’s UEFA Champions League clash, we have the Manchester City vs Sparta Prague preview, prediction, latest team news and predicted lineups.
Manchester City Vs Sparta Prague Preview
Manchester City
Man City and Sparta Prague will meet for the first time ever at the Etihad on GW3 in the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League.
The English champions face off against the Czechia league winners as the only side yet to taste defeat in the Premier League this season. Goals from Josko Gvardiol and John Stones secured three points against Wolves on Sunday.
City actually boasts a higher squad value of 15 times more than their visitors. Nonetheless, both sides are tied on four points after the opening two games.
Last time out, the Cityzens cruised to a comfortable 4-0 win against Slovan Bratislava. Ilkay Gundogan, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and James McAtee with the goals.
Pep Guardiola’s side laboured to a 0-0 draw at home to Inter on GW1. However, the Spaniard will create history tonight if the 2023 winners avoid defeat.
They will become the first side in UCL history to go unbeaten across 26 consecutive games. Furthermore, City can surpass Real Madrid’s 32-game unbeaten home run which has stood for 34 years.
Getting ready for a night under the lights ✨ pic.twitter.com/ngx2JVTMEd
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 21, 2024
Sparta Prague
With that in mind, Sparta Prague’s unenviable task of trying to cause an upset is made that little bit harder. However, the Maroons can be buoyed by their surprisingly strong start.
A credible 1-1 draw with Stuttgart in Germany on GW2 showed that Sparta are no pushovers. Even more so after they cruised past Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 on GW1.
Manager Lars Friis has led his side to second position in the Czech First League this year. They currently trail bitter rivals Slavia Prague by three points.
Sparta’s domestic fortunes will go on the back burner on Wednesday night as they try to prove themselves against one of the best in the world. The Maroons picked up a 2-1 win over Slovan Liberec on the weekend which will hold them in good stead.
Against English sides, Sparta’s record makes for rather grim reading. They have won just four times in 22 meetings and were thrashed 11-2 on aggregate against Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League last season.
Such form is why the best football betting sites in the UK price Sparta at a huge 35/1 to cause an upset. If they somehow did, it would be one of the biggest surprises in the competition’s history.
Manchester City Vs Sparta Prague Team News
UEFA Champions League favourites Manchester City will be without a number of first-team stars. Manager Pep Guardiola recently blasted the injury suffered by Kyle Walker whilst on international duty.
Kevin De Bruyne will also miss out alongside long-term absentees Rodri and Oscar Bobb. However, Nathan Ake could feature after missing the last seven matches. He was on the bench against Wolves on Sunday.
Pep Roulette could very well be evident tonight as the Spaniard is likely to rotate a plethora of stars. The likes of Matheus Nunes, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden are set to make the starting XI.
Meanwhile, visitors Sparta Prague have only two main injuries to navigate. Spanish left-back Imanol Garcia is ruled out as well as being ineligible and Elias Cobbaut is set o miss out via illness.
Martin Vitik is in line to play in a back three alongside Filip Panak and Jaroslav Zeleny. The former returns after serving a one-game suspension.
In attack, the trio of Lukas Haraslín, Veljko Birmancevic and Victor Olatunji are expected to start. Although, manager Lars Friis may opt to select striker Albion Rrahmani from the off.
Manchester City Vs Sparta Prague Predicted Lineups
Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Ederson; Lewis, Akanji, Dias, Gvardiol; Gundogan, Nunes; Bernardo, Foden, Grealish; Haaland
Sparta Prague (4-3-3): Vindahl; Vitik, Panak, Zeleny; Preciado, Kairinen, Laci, Wiesner; Birmancevic, Rrahmani, Haraslin
Manchester City Vs Sparta Prague Prediction
Even without the likes of star players Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri, Manchester City will be expected to brush aside Sparta Prague this evening. And create history in the process.
Erling Haaland has gone an ungodly three domestic games without scoring so the Norwegian superstar will be looking to make amends tonight.
If Sparta do set up with three at the back, it really could be a long evening at the Etihad for the Czechia champions. Anything but a home win is unimaginable.
Prediction: Manchester City 5-1 Sparta Prague