Sparta Prague vs Milan
10th December 2000hrs
Football – Czech Republic – Europa League
Pick Draw
Bookmaker William Hill
Odds: 4/6 odds taken 22:29 GMT, Wednesday 9th December
AC Milan will head to the Czech Republic or their final game of the group stage in this season’s Europa League.
They are trailing Group H leaders Lille by a point, so the best that they can do is go out and bag a win and hope that Lille slip up.
Sparta Prague is already out of the running. If Milan finish level with Lille on points, they stay in second place.
Table of Contents
Sparta Prague Preview – Can Sparta deny Milan?
Sparta Prague have taken a W2 L3 record in the group so far and both of their successes happened against Celtic.
When they visited the San Siro earlier in the campaign, they lost heavily 3-0 against Milan.
So while they have nothing to play for, as they will finish in third place in the group regardless of what happens they do have a chance of denying Milan top spot.
But the numbers don’t look great for then in terms of picking up a win.
Sparta have hosted AC Milan three times before and have taken a W2 L1 record from that.
From their 13 previous home games against Italian visitors, Sparta Prague a W4 D7 L2.
Their overall record against Italian teams (home and away) has seen Sparta win just five of 27 such games.
For Thursday night’s fixture Sparta Prague are the 4/1 underdogs* (odds taken 22:29 GMT, Wednesday 9th December).
Very interestingly, however, Sparta have not lost any of their last six home games against Italian opposition.
They have a pretty decent home record in the Europa League as well. They hold a W12 D6 L2 from their previous 19 Europa League home games in the group stage.
They were on a 15 match unbeaten streak at home before losing against Lille on Matchday One of this campaign.
So the big interest here is in wondering if Prague has enough about them to shut down Milan and perhaps play out a draw.
Milan Preview – Can Milan get their win?
At the end of the day, a win won’t guarantee Milan top spot in the group, but it is the only way that they have a chance of having that happen.
Milan are 4/6 favourites for the win after having already taken a comfortable victory over Sparta in this group* (odds taken 22:29 GMT, Wednesday 9th December).
They are unbeaten in their last seven games against Sparta, winning five of those.
On each of their three visits to the Czech capital to face Sparta, Milan have not conceded a single goal.
For football betting on this Europa League fixture, a Milan to win to nil option is at 2/1* (odds taken 22:29 GMT, Wednesday 9th December).
The Rossoneri, however, have won only one of their five previous trips to the Czech Republic (W1 D3 L1), that lone win happening against Sparta in 1973.
It is worth having a look at their away record in the Europa League. That is W7 D4 L3 (including qualifiers).
They only hold a fairly average W3 D3 L2 record away from home in the group stage of the tournament as well.
So far on the road in this campaign, they took a 3-1 win at Celtic and a 1-1 draw at Lille.
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Milan do have a good stretch of form going at the moment. They have won their last three fixtures in all competitions.
They have not lost an away game this season at all in any competition (D7 D2).
One slight concern for backers of Milan was that the Rossoneri have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last seven road fixtures in all competitions.
As a positive antidote to that, however, they have scored at least two goals in all but one road fixture.
Sparta Prague vs Milan Betting Advice
We do think that Milan gets the win that they are going for and the fact that they do need one adds a little interest to this game.
The only clean sheet that Milan have taken this season in the group stage campaign happened against Sparta Prague.
The hosts are probably going to be far less interested than they were on their visit to the San Siro.
Key Facts – Sparta Prague vs Milan Betting Tip
- Sparta Prague are winless in seven previous games against Milan
- Sparta Prague have lost one of their last 17 Europa league home games
- Milan have to win to have a chance at winning the group
So even though the lack of clean sheets from AC Milan makes it risky, a Milan To Win To Nil option at 2/1 is going to be our selection* (odds taken 22:29 GMT, Wednesday 9th December).
We do think the goal-scoring threat of AC Milan is far superior to that of Sparta, so we have to look at the away win.
It might be an interesting night in Prague.
The best betting odds for Sparta Prague vs Milan
Sparta Prague to win: 4/1 at Bet365
Draw: 3/1 at Bet365
Milan to win: 4/6 at Bet365
