Sparta Prague v Southampton Betting Preview – UEFA Europa League 24th November
A big night for the Saints because if they can earn more points than Hapoel do on Thursday, the Premier League club would be through to the next round of the competition. Southampton comfortably beat Sparta 3-0 on match day one, but the Saints have yet to score away from home in the group stage. A point wouldn’t be a bad deal out of this for them because that would ensure that they stay in second place going into match day six. A win over the current group leaders though would put them into such a strong position to run through as group winners and that could be massively important going forward.
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Sparta Prague v Southampton Betting Tips
The Czech side have some pretty good home form this season and they have averaged 2.5 goals per game at home in the league. That means that they are likely to give Southampton a stiff examination in this one. They did lose heavily at Southampton in the first group meeting, but they have responded very well since then, winning their next three games on the bounce. So they are in decent form now and top the group. They will book themselves a place in the next round as group winners if they beat the Saints on Thursday. So this is a big game for them and it will make the night even harder for the Premier League side. But Sparta haven’t beaten an English opponents since back in 1983 and suffered that 3-0 loss against Southampton back at St Mary’s this season. There could be goals in this one and over 2.5 goals at Bet365 is a price of 23/20 here, and that will be based on the scoring feats of the Czechs at home this term. Sparta have a W8 D2 L1 record at home this season in all competitions and have won their last four there to nil.
Sparta Prague can be backed at 5/1 with Bet365 to win to nil here against Southampton and there is a stat pointing to that. Southampton have not scored in any of their last three away games in Europe now and they have scored just one in their last eight away from home in UEFA competition. Sparta hold a W3 D4 L12 (at home W2 D2 L5) against English opposition, however, they haven’t beaten a Premier League side in any of their last 15 attempts now. At home in Europe, Sparta are unbeaten in their last four and both of their home wins in the group so far have been by a two goal margin. In the anytime goalscorer market you have Sofiane Boufal running at a price of 2/1 to net. There is a quote of 19/20 at Bet365 for both teams to score in the game. Sparta have been to the knockout stage of the competition in three of their last four campaigns and would get through with a draw here.
So not an easy game for Southampton here. Southampton have only managed a 0-0 draw and two 1-0 defeats out on the road this season in Europe. So they are going to be at risk here because of the lack of goals and form away from home. Southampton have actually only won two of their last seven games across all competitions now and only once in that sequence have managed to score more than one goal in a game, which was in their 2-1 win over Inter on Match Day Four of the Europa League. So the Saints need to put in a special performance here and Charlie Austin is a price of 7/5 in the anytime goalscorer market, with Shane Long, Nathan Redmond and Jay Rodriguez all at the 2/1 mark. Of concern too is their defence against a good scoring home side, because Southampton have picked up just the two clean sheets in their last eight in all competitions.
Sparta Prague v Southampton Betting Odds
Southampton 23/20, Draw 23/10, Sparta Prague 12/5
Sparta Prague v Southampton Predictions
Big points at stake and this isn’t an easy game for the visitors. Sparta Prague were easily beaten by Southampton at St Marys but are likely to go much better in this one. They have enjoyed a strong season on home soil and may likely dig in for a point in this one. Southampton haven’t been producing the goods out on the road and it may just be worth settling on the score draw to happen here. That’s wouldn’t be a disaster for either.
