Lille Vs Sparta Prague
Lille Vs Sparta Prague Thursday 3rd December 2020 – 17:55 (kick-off)
UEFA Europa League Group H
Pick: Both Teams to Score
Odds: 3/5
Bookmaker: Bet365
(All betting odds correct at time of writing: 1st December 2020)
Preview: At the Stade Pierre Mauroy on Thursday we have Lille taking on Sparta Prague, with the latter keen to exhibit a more accomplished performance than the one which seen them convincingly beaten 4-1 when these sides met on Matchday 1.
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Table of Contents
Lille Preview – Les Douges finally primed for rare home success?
Sitting a point clear atop Group H, Lille (W2 D2) will book their place in the next round with a group game to spare provided they collect maximum points at their Stade Pierre Mauroy on Thursday. That could be a lot easier said than done meanwhile. Christophe Galtier’s side certainly made the reverse fixture on Matchday 1 appear easy enough though, when a Yasuf Yazici hat-trick inspired a 4-1 victory in the Czech Republic.
Facing opposition that will be encouraged by their own reversal in fortunes, Lille must perform a similar feat here, in the knowledge their record at home in European competition has been incredibly poor throughout the years. Last week’s 1-1 draw with AC Milan, while a very creditable result against the current Serie A leaders, stretched their winless home run in Europe to fourteen matches (D7 L7).
Those keen on the hosts and their wafer thin odds should also bear in mind that they have been held in France twice already, conceding the opening goal before salvaging a draw against both Celtic (2-2) and AC Milan (1-1). Those among five score draws Lille have laboured to in their past eight competitive matches. That includes three of the last four on home soil, as well as last week’s 1-1 Ligue 1 draw in St Etienne.
Sparta Prague Preview – Czech recovery in full flow?
Humbling defeats at home to Lille and then in Italy to AC Milan, losing 4-1 and 3-0 respectively, gave the impression that Sparta Prague (W2 L2) were a lost cause in Group H. Then they went and scored eight against Celtic, beating the Scottish champions 4-1 home and away. Restoring not only some pride but also hauling themselves back into qualifying contention.
It should also be noted that the side from the Czech Republic went into those aforementioned defeats undercooked due to a lack of domestic football. That is no longer the case. Not that their form has been great ever since, losing successive league games 3-1 and 4-2 before return to winning ways this past weekend with a slender 1-0 success on the road at Teplice.
In Europe, Sparta endured a wretched run of six straight away defeats prior to facing Celtic in Glasgow. Forward Lukas Julis with a hat-trick at Celtic Park, before netting a further two when the teams reconvened in Prague. Meanwhile, their record in France isn’t much better, boasting one solitary win across five previous visits (W1 D1 L3). The last of those against Lyon, a 2-1 loss in 2012.
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Lille Vs Sparta Prague Betting Advice
The Czech side were caught cold when these teams met in the opening fixture of the group, and weren’t aided by the loss of midfielder Ladislav Krejci to a sending off merely 23 minutes into the contest. Sparta Prague could, theoretically, be a different beast this time around, boasting form (back-to-back wins over Celtic), fitness and eleven players out on the pitch, at least to begin with.
Lille Vs Sparta Prague – Key Facts:
- Unbeaten in Group H, Lille sit a point clear at the summit and will qualify with a win here, but haven’t managed to do so in their past fourteen European home games (D7 L7).
- Prior to their 4-1 victory in Scotland against Celtic, Sparta Prague had lose each of their previous six away matches in European competition.
- Yusuf Yazici scored the first of two back-to-back away hat-tricks in the Czech Republic as Lille recorded an impressive 4-1 win over Sparta Prague on Matchday 1.
A win for Lille will see them qualify for the knockout stage and while they are fancied to do so, their record at home in Europe is alarming (D7 L7). Particularly for a side which has now drawn five of its past eight competitive matches and boasts just two clean sheets in nine. Momentum is clearly with our visitors who can ensure we get a much more competitive affair between the two sides second time around.
Best Betting Odds – Lille Vs Sparta Prague
Lille – 2/5 (PaddyPower)
Draw – 4/1 (Betfair)
Sparta Prague – 6/1 (BetVictor)
