While Sparta Prague are already via to the Conference League knockout play-off spherical at the very least, they nonetheless have to beat Aberdeen on Thursday night time to guard their place within the high eight and guide a spot instantly into the final 16.
That, and the actual fact that is their last sport earlier than a six-week winter break, means they’ve much less incentive to rotate their squad than the Dons.
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Brian Priske’s aspect are unbeaten in 4 video games and have solely misplaced one in all their previous 9, however a scarcity of victories within the league not too long ago means they’ve slipped seven factors behind rivals Slavia.
In the Conference League, 4-1 residence win over Shamrock Rovers apart, their video games have been determined by a single aim.
Away wins over Legia Warsaw and Craiova of Romania have been key to getting them into sixth spot, whereas their solely loss got here in Rijeka amid farcical scenes, when the second half needed to be performed the following day after a biblical downpour postponed the match.
Sparta use a 3-4-3 formation and their key man is captain Lukas Haraslin, who performs on the left of the entrance three.
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The 49-cap Czech Republic worldwide is technically wonderful and has 5 targets and 5 assists this season, together with organising the winner in Romania final time.
Kosovo striker Albion Rrahmani has 12 targets, whereas one other Czech worldwide, Jan Kuchta, has 9.
It is a crew with loads of European and worldwide expertise, and which has misplaced simply as soon as in 15 residence video games this season, making it a frightening job for Aberdeen.