Sparta Prague lose 0:1 to Olympiacos in Europa League: experts react

Sparta Prague lost 0:1 to Olympiacos in Piraeus in a Europa League match and have four points after three rounds. Czech pundits and former club players agreed: the team was not far from a point, but showed too little in attack.

Sparta had already thrown away a win in the match against Lillestrøm. Head coach Brian Priske was left with mixed feelings. In his words, the result was deserved and Olympiacos were entitled to win on the overall play, but his team had a chance to take home a good result: a draw at the very least, and possibly a win.

The first 30 minutes and a weak attack

Pundit František Straka said on Nova Sport that for the first 30 minutes Sparta played compactly and aggressively. What surprised him was something else: why the team then moved away from that style.

There was a lack of quality in the final phase. Matěj Vojta led the line; he has been waiting for a goal for seven months and did not end the drought in Piraeus. “It’s hard, but I’m staying positive. I know I can score, and it will come,” the striker said. Sparta did not test the goalkeeper until the very end, and even then from a free kick. Former club striker Roman Bednář admitted that the team looked decent in build-up play but did little in attack.

A frustrating and cheap goal

Juzimar Alcoser was very active on the flank, but he did not fully convince Bednář either. “Going forward I liked him, but before the goal conceded he failed at the touchline and let the opponent cross easily. That’s infuriating,” the former forward said. Straka, who used to coach Sparta, added that goals like that can be avoided, and even one point would have been “golden”.

Former Sparta goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík, who also played in Piraeus, agreed that Olympiacos were better. In his words, it is frustrating that Sparta did not manage even a point, with ever stronger opponents ahead. “It’s going to be a big chunk,” he warned.

What awaits Sparta next

The Prague side has picked up four points from three matches. Next come the English clubs Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, as well as AZ Alkmaar, Rennes and Salzburg.

Former defender Ondřej Mazuch does not see the outlook as so gloomy: according to him, Sparta has always known how to play against big teams. He recalled the success over Milan’s Inter a decade ago, when the Prague side won 3:1 although nobody believed in them. “I believe Sparta will still pick up points,” he said.

Around Prague, based on reporting by denik.cz