RANGERS continue their UEFA Europa League campaign with a trip to the Czech Republic to face Sparta Prague in matchday three of Group C this evening.
If you’re keen to know more about the Czech side who ended their nine-year wait for a league title last season, here’s everything you need to know.
HISTORY
Founded in 1893, Sparta Prague boast the honour of being the most successful club in the Czech Republic having collected a record number of league titles in the country.
Allied to that, 15 Czech Cup’s have also been lifted along the way, although the club were on the losing side in last year’s edition against city rivals Slavia.
After relegation to the second tier in 1975, Sparta returned to the top-flight and restored their credentials as a European heavyweight with a run to the semi-finals of the European Cup in 1992.
Although league success has proven elusive over the last decade for Sparta, they recently ended a nine-year wait for title glory and will be keen to make it back-to-back triumphs this season.
STADIUM
The epet ARENA will host this evening’s meeting between the two teams, with Sparta having called the stadium their home since 1917.
The ground’s official capacity stands at 18,887 and frequently plays host to Czech Republic national team matches, the most recent of which came back in 2021.
Rangers were visitors to the stadium in the 2021/22 Europa League group stage campaign, falling to a 1-0 defeat before exacting revenge in Glasgow with a 2-0 success en route to the side’s run to the final in Seville.
RECENT FORM
Sparta are currently nestled at the summit of the Czech top-flight and enjoy a two-point cushion over rivals Slavia Prague.
Indeed, the defending champions are yet to taste defeat in the league this term, hitting SK Dynamo Č. Budějovice for four without reply in their previous domestic outing before this evening’s visit from the Light Blues.
They started their European campaign in the Champions League qualifying rounds where they tasted a penalty shootout defeat to FC Copenhagen, before dropping into the Europa League play-off round.
From there, the Czech side survived a scare after a 3-1 first leg defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb, rallying in the return leg to produce a 4-1 victory and seal their place in this year’s group stage draw.
MANAGER
Sparta are coached by 46-year-old Brian Priske, who ended the club’s nine-year wait for a league title in his debut campaign in charge last season.
Indeed, Priske is most remembered on British shores for his spell at Portsmouth, helping steer the club to top-flight safety in the 2006/07 campaign.
The Danish boss cut his managerial teeth with FC Midtjylland, leading the club to title success in 2019/20 and qualification to the Champions League to boot.
Priske then crossed paths with current Gers boss Philippe Clement during his spell at Royal Antwerp, with Clement recently telling the media that their relationship began back in his playing days: “I know the coach really well because he is a friend. We played together at Brugge and he was a coach also in Antwerp.”
STYLE OF PLAY
Priske typically deploys a system with a heavy emphasis on wing-backs, with the side also renowned for their patient and methodical circulation of the ball.
No team in the Czech top-flight has scored more than Sparta so far this term (34), while they have scored three or more goals on seven separate occasions already.
The effectiveness of Sparta’s attacking trio has been a defining feature of their form, spearheaded by the dangerous goal threat of Lukas Haraslin.
ONE TO WATCH
However, Sparta’s key player comes in the form of a familiar foe in 25-year-old Veljko Birmancevic, who enjoyed success over Rangers on the books of Malmo in Champions League qualifying in 2021.
The Serbian earned a move to Toulouse the following summer before joining the Czech side on loan in June.
His impact has been immediate for Priske’s side this term, delivering five goals and four assists as the team’s chief creative threat.
Capable of playing on either flank as part of the attacking trident, Birmancevic also netted the side’s solitary goal inside three minutes in their 2-1 defeat to Real Betis in the previous matchday.