Sparta Praha welcome Lillestrøm to TC Strahov on Thursday 15 October, kick-off 17:45 UK, in the Europa League league stage. The hosts have a 4-1 win at Ararat behind them and sit 3rd of 36 on three points. Lillestrøm are 24th with none after a 1-2 home defeat to Torreense, and the bookmakers have Sparta as heavy favourites at 1.35.
Sparta scored four in that opener, among the most of any side on the opening matchday. It is early in the league stage, but they have made the stronger start.
Sparta Praha come into this with a mixed recent run. They won 4-1 away at Ararat on 16 September, but before that came a 3-0 defeat at Lyon in the Champions League, a game that followed their 2-1 home win over the same opponents. Before that came a 4-0 home loss to AZ in the Europa Conference League. They have won five of their last ten, with four defeats and a draw.
Their opening Europa League game was an open one: both teams scored, there were more than 2.5 goals, and Sparta won 13 corners and had 8 shots on target.
Lillestrøm have mixed Europa League and Eliteserien football in recent weeks. They drew 2-2 at home to Molde on 11 October, lost 3-0 at Viking on 20 September and beat Vålerenga 2-0 on 12 September. They have kept a clean sheet in a third of their games.
Sparta Praha possible starting lineup:
Surovcik; Suchomel, Zelený, Mbe Soh; Guddal, Sochurek, Macek; Karabec, Braut Brunes, Alcócer; Mercado
Lillestrøm possible starting lineup:
Dahlberg; Ranger, Foss, Gabrielsen; Elkær, Ottosson, Nyheim; Kitolano, Bassi, Gulbrandsen; Vá
Loïc Mbe Soh is a defender who keeps getting shots away. He has had at least one shot in four of his last five games, and one or more shots is 1.62 at bet365.
Fredrik Gulbrandsen has had a shot on target in four of his last five and is 1.67 at bet365 to do it again, 1.80 at Ladbrokes and Coral.
Lars Ranger is another Lillestrøm defender who gets forward. He has had a shot in four of his last five, including six in one game, and one or more shots is 1.57 at bet365.
Roman Macek has committed a foul in four of his last five games and one or more fouls is 1.25 at Midnite.
Tobias Guddal is one for the longer shots: our model rates his chance of two shots on target well above the 15.00 on offer.
The bookmakers make Sparta Praha strong favourites at 1.35 with Ladbrokes, with the draw at 5.50 at bet365 and Lillestrøm at 8.50 at Midnite. Both teams to score is 1.91 at bet365, and over 2.5 goals is 1.53 at bet365.
| Market | Best price | Statz chance |
|---|---|---|
| Sparta Praha to win | 1.35 (Ladbrokes) | - |
| Draw | 5.50 (bet365) | - |
| Lillestrøm to win | 8.50 (Midnite) | - |
| Both teams to score | 1.91 (bet365) | - |
| Over 2.5 goals | 1.53 (bet365) | - |
We expect Sparta Praha to win at TC Strahov. Their first Europa League game produced four goals and eight shots on target. Lillestrøm scored in their opener and in the 2-2 draw with Molde, so a reply is plausible and goals at both ends are in play.