Our next opponents: Sparta with nothing to lose

Position

It's still the winter break in the Czech 'Chance Liga'. Sparta Prague's last league match, a 2-1 win over FK Jablonec, was in mid-December. Play resumes this weekend in the Czech top flight, where Sparta, last season's league and cup winners, are currently in third place on 37 points behind Viktoria Plzeň (43) and leaders Slavia Prague (50). Sparta flew to Spain for a training camp during the winter break, where they won two friendlies against Malmö FF (3-1) and FC Bodø Glimt (3-0).

In the Champions League, coach Lars Friis' side lost 1-0 at home to Inter Milan last week. It was their fifth successive defeat in the competition and means they can no longer progress to the knockout stages ahead of the final game against the Werkself. The Prague club, who are back in Europe's premier club competition for the first time in 19 years, actually made a very good start to the campaign, beating FC Salzburg 3-0 at home in their opening game and then picking up a 1-1 draw at VfB Stuttgart. But then came defeats at Manchester City (5-0), against Stade Brest (2-1), Atletico Madrid (6-0), at Feyenoord (4-2) and then against Inter. Sparta put in a decent performance against the Italian giants and forward Veljko Birmancevic missed two good chances to equalise after Lautaro Martinez's 12th-minute goal, but both times the 26-year-old was denied by former Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer. Overall, though, the victory for Inter - who are fourth in the league phase - was deserved on the basis of their far greater possession and chances.

Personnel

Sparta boss Friis was assistant to Brian Priske until last summer. After his move to Feyenoord, Friis took over as head coach. Sparta's sporting director is Tomas Rosicky, the former Czech Republic international (105 caps) and Bundesliga player for Borussia Dortmund (2001-2006).

Denmark's Peter Vindahl has kept goal for Prague since his move from AZ Alkmaar in the summer. In defence, Friis almost always employs a back three, centred around captain Filip Panak. Martin Vitik and Ansgar Sörensen are normally his first-choice partners. The latter, like Vindahl, played for 1. FC Nürnberg earlier in his career. Other options in defence include Galatasaray loanee Mathias Ross or the experienced Jaroslav Zeleny. Elias Cobbaut, a summer signing from Italian club Parma, is out injured.

In the wide positions, Friis has relied on Czech duo Matej Rynes on the left and Tomas Wiesner on the right in the last three Champions League matches. In the centre of midfield, Albanian Qazim Laci and Finn Kaan Kairinen, a national team-mate of Bayer 04 keeper Lukas Hradecky, are regular starters. Kairinen has impressed in the Champions League with two goals, netting in both the 3-0 win over Salzburg and the 1-1 draw at Stuttgart. Lukas Sadiley is also a key player in midfield.

Along with Serbia international Birmancevic in the attacking department, Nigerian Victor Olatunji - who like Kairinen has scored twice in the UCL this season - and wingers Ermal Krasniqi and Lukas Haraslin are worth mentioning. Olatunji and Haraslin are the team's leading scorers in the Czech league with six and five goals respectively. In Albion Rrahmani, with four goals to his name, another danger man is absent for the game against the Werkself through injury. One player who's no longer available is midfielder Markus Solbakken: the son of Norwegian national team coach Stale Solbakken joined Italian second-tier outfit Pisa Sporting Club on loan a few days ago.

Problems

With 19 goals conceded, Sparta Prague are one of the leakiest teams in the current competition, although 11 of those did come in the two games against top clubs Manchester City and Atletico. Only four sides have conceded more goals in total. This defensive vulnerability is also reflected in the number of shots allowed (127). In the categories of tackle success (45.2%), passes (2,190) and pass completion (74.4%), Sparta actually have the worst stats of all 36 participants. Even in the league, the double winners' defence isn't always solid, with captain Panak and Co conceding 22 goals in 19 games so far. The team have a tendency to make mistakes under high pressing and pressure.

Performers

In the 3-0 victory against Salzburg, Friis' men were sharp and clinical in attack, with Kairinen, Olatunji and Laci capitalising on mistakes by the opponents. Sparta also produced a strong display at Stuttgart, particularly in the first half. Kairinen cancelled out VfB's opener by Enzo Millot, curling a free kick into the corner. A dream goal that Birmancevic almost added to just before half-time, but his header landed against the upright. Then in the second half, the visitors also showed they can defend resolutely. Kairinen is the man who can dictate the play in the Sparta midfield, while the main threat presents itself when wingers Haraslin and Birmancevic are able to capitalise on Prague's good transitional play.