Sparta Prague And Atletico Madrid will face each other for the first time in their respective histories on Tuesday night and both sides will be under pressure to get a positive result given their struggles during the season Champions League this season.

Atletico are in 23rd place in the overall Champions League table, having picked up just six points from their four games in the competition, while Sparta are in 26th place, having picked up four points from their first four games of the 2024/25 season has collected.

Game preview

© Imago

Sparta made an encouraging start to the 2024-25 Champions League season, defeating Red Bull Salzburg 3-0 before drawing 1-1 with Stuttgart. That gave Sparta four points from their first two games, but they have since been beaten twice, going down 5-0 at Manchester City before a 2-1 defeat at home to Brest.

A total of four points from four games remain Lars FriisThe Amsterdam team is in 26th place in the Champions League table, one point behind PSV Eindhoven in 24th place, which would be enough for a place in the playoffs.

Sparta are actually on a four-game winning streak in all competitions, drawing their last two games in the league against Mlada Boleslav and Teplice. This puts them in fourth place in the Czech First League, 11 points behind leaders Slavia Prague.

The Reds have won five of their last 11 home games against Spanish opponents in the Champions League and lost six, but they have been victorious in three of their last four home games against La Liga teams and have won seven of their last 13 European home games, losing just twice .

Sparta will play three more games in the league phase of the Champions League after this competition, facing Feyenoord in the final European game of 2024 before facing Inter Milan and Bayer Leverkusen in January.

© Imago

Atlético, meanwhile, are in a good position heading into this competition having won each of their last five games in all competitions, including a 2-1 win over Alaves in La Liga on Saturday.

Diego Simeone‘s team is now second in the La Liga tablefive points behind leaders Barcelona, ​​while they recorded a big win in the Champions League last time out, beating Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital.

However, the Red and Whites have lost to both Benfica and Lille in this competition this season and are currently 23rd in the Champions League table. They have picked up just six points in four games while scoring just five goals.

Atletico have not played against Czech opponents since the 2012/13 Europa League group stage, when they won at home against Viktoria Plzen but suffered a defeat in the second leg on the trip.

The capital giants reached the Champions League final in both 2014 and 2016, while they have reached the knockout stages of the competition in nine of their last 11 seasons. Therefore, it would be a big shock if the Red and Whites were unable to overcome this and progress to the next round of the competition.

Sparta Prague Champions League form:

Form of Sparta Prague (all competitions):

Atletico Madrid Champions League form:

Atlético Madrid form (all competitions):

Team news

© Imago

Sparta will be without the services of Veljko Birmancevic (thigh) and Angelo Preciado (Knee) suffered an injury on Tuesday, but the Czech team has reported no new concerns.

Victor Olatunji has been in strong form for the Czech team this season, finding the net eight times, and the 25-year-old will lead the home side’s line here too.

Albion Rrahmani is another key player for Sparta, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 14 appearances, and there is also likely to be a spot available for the number 10 in the final third of the field.

Meanwhile, Atletico will once again have to do without the services of Thomas Lemar due to a muscle problem; Robin Le Normand He is also unlikely to feature despite recently returning to training after a horrific head injury.

Nahuel Molina was forced out of the Argentina squad due to injury during the international break in November and missed Saturday’s game against Alaves, so the defender is questionable.

Marcos Llorente And Cesar Azpilicueta However, they are now fit again and Simeone will make changes to the team that started on Saturday Julian Alvarez, Rodrigo De Paul, Jose Gimenez And Conor Gallagher Everyone is ready to start.

Possible starting lineup for Sparta Prague:
Vindahl; Vitik, Panak, Cobbaut; Wiesner, Laci, Kairinen, Rynes; Pesek, Olatunji, Rrahmani

Possible Atletico Madrid starting lineup:
Oblak; Azpilicueta, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Llorente, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez

We say: Sparta Prague – Atlético Madrid 0-1

Sparta are certainly capable of making this an uncomfortable game for Atletico, who have not been at their best in this competition this season. However, we expect Simeone’s side to find a way to secure all three points on Tuesday, which would certainly give them a much more comfortable position in the table.

For data analysis of the most likely outcomes, scores and more for this game, please click here.

Previews via email