Preview: Sparta Prague vs. Brondby - prediction, team news, lineups

Sparta Prague welcome Brondby to the Generali Arena for their final Group A match in the Europa League on Thursday night.

Neither side can qualify for the last 32, but both are still in with a chance of finishing third in the group, with the hosts just needing to avoid defeat to advance into the Europa Conference League.

Match preview

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Sparta Prague's hopes of reaching the last 32 were ended last month when they suffered a 2-0 defeat against Rangers at Ibrox.

The Czech outfit needed to avoid a defeat by two or more goals to stay in contention for second place in Group A; however, strikes either side of half time from Alfredo Morelos eliminated them from the Europa League.

Pavel Vrba's men will now be looking to keep their European campaign alive, as there is a place in the inaugural Europa Conference League still up for grabs.

Sparta Prague have alternated between victory and defeat in each of their last five Europa League home matches, losing their most recent home game 4-3 against Group A winners Lyon in October.

After keeping clean sheets in their first two group-stage matches, Sparta have since conceded nine times in their last three games; only Legia Warsaw (10) have conceded more than Vrba's men in this year's competition over the last three fixtures.

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Brondby are one of six teams in this year's Europa League who have yet to win a game in the group stage, claiming just two points from their five matches so far.

The Boys from Vestegnen head into Thursday's match after suffering a 2-0 defeat at home against FC Midtjylland in the quarter-finals of the Danish Cup on Sunday.

Niels Frederiksen's men have struggled for consistency in recent weeks and have found life in the Europa League challenging this term, but all is not lost as a victory at the Generali Arena would see them leapfrog their Czech opponents into third place in Group A, which would keep their first European campaign since 2008-09 alive.

Brondby's only previous meeting against Sparta Prague was earlier this season in the reverse fixture, which ended as a goalless draw in Denmark. Frederiksen will be hoping for another resilient defensive display with the addition of a clinical edge from his side in midweek.

Team News

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Sparta Prague will be without Lukas Julis (groin), Casper Hojer (calf), Matej Polidar (muscle) and Ondrej Celustka (knee) due to injury.

Right-back Tomas Wiesner missed the last Europa League game with a knock but is available for Thursday's clash and is expected to start ahead of Andreas Vindheim.

Teenage forward Adam Hlozek – who has been linked with a move to West Ham United – is set to lead the line up front and could be supported in attack by wingers Lukas Haraslin and David Moberg Karlsson.

As for Brondby, 20-year-old centre-back Rasmus Wikstrom continues to recover from a shoulder injury, while fellow defender Anton Skipper is doubtful and will be assessed ahead of kickoff.

Frederiksen will be hoping he can rely on striker Mikael Uhre to find the net; the 27-year-old has scored 14 goals across all competitions this term, including a strike in the 3-1 defeat against Lyon last time out.

Sparta Prague possible starting lineup:
Nita; Wiesner, Panak, Krejci, Hancko; Sacek, Pavelka, Karabec; Karlsson, Hlozek, Haraslin

Brondby possible starting lineup:
Mikkelsen; Rosted, Tshiembe, Maxso; Bruus, Slimane, Frendrup, Radosevic, Mensah; Hedlund, Uhre

We say: Sparta Prague 2-1 Brondby

The last encounter between Sparta Prague and Brondby was cagey; however, we are expecting a more open match on Thursday, as both sides bid to keep their European campaigns alive.

The Iron Sparta only need a draw to seal third place in Group A, but we feel that they have a stronger squad that can secure a slender victory on home soil.

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