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Played
February 14, 2013 6:00 PM GMT
Generali Arena — Praha
Referee: D. Orsato
Attendance: 18952
February 14, 2013 6:00 PM GMT
Generali Arena — Praha
Referee: D. Orsato
Attendance: 18952
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| Sparta Prague | 4.50 | 5.50 | 5.00 | 4.50 | 5.40 | 5.00 | 4.50 | 5.10 | 4.70 | 4.80 | 5.09 |
| Draw | 3.50 | 3.75 | 3.50 | 3.50 | 3.60 | 3.75 | 3.50 | 3.60 | 3.70 | 3.50 | 3.56 |
| Chelsea | 1.61 | 1.61 | 1.57 | 1.75 | 1.76 | 1.67 | 1.61 | 1.70 | 1.75 | 1.65 | 1.67 |
Sparta Prague - Chelsea Preview: Blues begin new European adventure
Rafael Benitez's side open their Europa League campaign in the Czech Republic against The Reds, who sit third in the Czech Premier League and lost just once in the group stage
By Chris Teale
Getty Images
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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SPARTA PRAGUE
 Vaclik Vidlicka, Svejdik, Zapotocny, Pamic Kadlec, Husbauer, Vacha, Matejovsky, Krejci Lafata |
CHELSEA
 Cech Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand Ramires, Mikel, Marin Oscar, Torres, Moses |
The home side should choose a fairly strong team for this game, with the exciting pair of Vaclav Kadlec and David Krefci both significant goal threats from the wing.
He will be supporting lone frontman David Lafata, who joined the club in January after a proflific spell with Jablonec 97 while former West Brom forward is likely to start on bench with other strikers Leonard Kweuke and Bekim Balaj.
In defence, the experienced Tomas Zapotocny will be crucial in the centre, hoping to use his considerable experience of European football to good effect for the home side.
For Chelsea, Demba Ba is cup-tied having played in this competition already for Newcastle, so it will fall to Fernando Torres to lead the line.
Blues manager Rafael Benitez may choose this competition to experiment with his side, allowing some of his fringe players time on the pitch.
John Terry remains out with a knee injury, while midfielder Oriel Romeu (knee) is another who is a long-term absentee.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
Sparta Prague first began their Europa League campaign at the beginning of August, beating Admira of Austria 4-2 on aggregate in the third qualifying round.
- Czech midfielder Jiri Jarosik spent two seasons with Chelsea, making enough league appearances in the 2004-05 season to earn a Premier League winner’s medal but being loaned to Birmingham City after the arrival of Michael Essien.
- Sparta Prague have tasted success in European club competition before, winning the Mitropa Cup for central European teams three times before the tournament was discontinued in 1992.
- These teams last met in the Champions League group stage in the 2003-04 season, with the sides drawing 0-0 at Stamford Bridge after the Blues won 1-0 away in Prague thanks to a goal from William Gallas (pictured).
- Chelsea have not played in this competition since the 2002-03 season, when they lost 5-4 on aggregate in the first round to Norwegian side Viking FK.
- If the Blues were to win this competition, they would have then won each European club competition in their history.
- Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has won this competition once as a manager in the 2003-04 season when he was in charge of Valencia.
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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Sparta Praha 1-3 Chelsea FC
- 21.05 %
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Sparta Praha 0-3 Chelsea FC
- 13.94 %
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Sparta Praha 0-2 Chelsea FC
- 12.64 %
| UEFA Europa League (EL) | Feb 21, 2013 | Chelsea FC 1 - Sparta Praha 1 |
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| UEFA Europa League (EL) | Feb 14, 2013 | Sparta Praha 0 - Chelsea FC 1 |
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Sparta Praha
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| Feb 21, 2013 | Chelsea FC 1 - Sparta Praha 1 | EL |
| Feb 14, 2013 | Sparta Praha 0 - Chelsea FC 1 | EL |
| Dec 6, 2012 | Athletic Bilbao 0 - Sparta Praha 0 | EL |
| Nov 22, 2012 | Sparta Praha 1 - Olympique Lyonnais 1 | EL |
| Nov 8, 2012 | Ironi Kiryat Shmona 1 - Sparta Praha 1 | EL |
Chelsea FC
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| May 24, 2013 | Chelsea FC 3 - Manchester City FC 4 | FR |
| May 19, 2013 | Chelsea FC 2 - Everton 1 | EPL |
| May 15, 2013 | Benfica 1 - Chelsea FC 2 | EL |
| May 11, 2013 | Aston Villa 1 - Chelsea FC 2 | EPL |
| May 8, 2013 | Chelsea FC 2 - Tottenham 2 | EPL |
| Returns: | Sparta Prague £55.00 |
|
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| Returns: | Draw £37.50 |
|
Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET! | |
| Returns: | Chelsea £17.50 |
|
Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets |
| 31 | Tomas Vaclik | Goalkeeper |
| 19 | Matěj Hybš | Defender |
| 20 | Tomas Zapotocny | Defender |
| 4 | Ondrej Svejdik | Midfielder |
| 8 | Marek Matejovsky | Midfielder |
| 22 | Josef Husbauer | Midfielder |
| 23 | Ladislav Krejci | Midfielder |
| 25 | Mario Holek | Midfielder |
| 6 | Lukas Vacha | Midfielder |
| 14 | Václav Kadlec | Striker |
| - | David Lafata | Striker |
| 1 | Marek Čech | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Manuel Pamić | Defender |
| 24 | Vlastimil Vidlička | Defender |
| 27 | Roman Polom | Defender |
| 32 | Adam Janos | Midfielder |
| 11 | Leonard Kweuke | Striker |
| 9 | Roman Bednar | Striker |
| 1 | Petr Cech | Goalkeeper |
| 28 | César Azpilicueta | Defender |
| 2 | Branislav Ivanovic | Defender |
| 24 | Gary Cahill | Defender |
| 34 | Ryan Bertrand | Defender |
| 17 | Eden Hazard | Midfielder |
| 8 | Frank Lampard | Midfielder |
| 21 | Marko Marin | Midfielder |
| 7 | Ramires | Midfielder |
| 9 | Fernando Torres | Striker |
| 10 | Juan Mata | Striker |
| 22 | Ross Turnbull | Goalkeeper |
| 3 | Ashley Cole | Defender |
| 26 | John Terry | Defender |
| - | Nathan Ake | Defender |
| 19 | Paulo Ferreira | Defender |
| 11 | Oscar | Midfielder |
| 10 | Yossi Benayoun | Midfielder |
| Marek Matejovsky | |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Squad Number: | 8 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Sparta captain Marek Matejovsky has some experience of the Premier League having played for Reading in their first spell in the top flight, and will need to draw on all his experience if the home side are to prevail here. The midfielder and captain will be crucial for his side’s chances in breaking up any attacking play from his preferred defensive midfielder position.
| Fernando Torres | |
| Position: | Striker |
| Squad Number: | 9 |
| Games | Goals | YC | RC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
With Demba Ba cup-tied for the Blues, all eyes will be on Fernando Torres who is likely to lead the line and keep rebuilding his fragile confidence. The Spaniard has scored three goals already in Europe this season, and if Chelsea are serious about this competition they will be hopeful that he can find some scoring form.
This competition may not be a priority for Chelsea, but they will be hoping to have a good performance away from home.
Sparta sit third in the Czech top division, but even with home advantage the Blues should have enough to overcome their threat in this first leg.
Sparta sit third in the Czech top division, but even with home advantage the Blues should have enough to overcome their threat in this first leg.
Results
Times In GMT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Libor Kozák Striker Lazio |
10 | 0 |
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Ó. Cardozo Striker Benfica |
8 | 3 |
|
Rodrigo Palacio Striker Inter |
8 | 0 |
|
Eto'o Striker Anji Makhachkal |
7 | 2 |
|
Edinson Cavani Striker Napoli |
7 | 2 |
