Sparta Prague vs AS Monaco: prediction, preview & team news / Champions League 2021-22
Sparta Prague will welcome Monaco to Letna Stadium on Tuesday evening, with both sides looking to secure a first-leg advantage in their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round contest.
Monaco qualified for this stage after placing third in Ligue 1 last term, while Sparta recorded a 3-2 aggregate victory over Rapid Vienna in the second qualifying round of this season’s competition.
Sparta Prague come into this game on the back of a 5-0 win over Pavel Hoftych’s Slovan Liberec yesterday in the Czech First League.
Slovan Liberec had former Werder Bremen right-back Theodor Gebre Selassie sent off in the second-half.
Sparta finished second behind Slavia Prague in the 2020-21 Czech First League, which ensured that they would qualify for the second qualifying round of this season’s Champions League.
AS Monaco, on the other hand, lost 2-1 to Imanol Alguacil’s Real Sociedad in a friendly game a few days ago.
Sparta played in the group stages of last season’s Europa League, finishing third in Group H behind AC Milan and Lille, with their only two victories in the section coming against Celtic.
Monaco, have not had to play a Champions League fixture to reach this round, as they automatically qualified for this stage of the competition courtesy of finishing third in Ligue 1 last season.
Monaco famously reached the semi-finals of the 2016-17 European Cup, though, beating Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund in the knockout rounds before suffering a 4-1 aggregate defeat to Juventus.
Sparta vs Monaco predictions:
- Both sides have scored in four of Monaco’s last five matches.
- Four of Monaco’s last five matches have produced over 2.5 goals.
- Four of Sparta Prague’s last five matches have produced over 2.5 goals.
- Both sides have scored in four of Sparta Prague’s last five matches.
This is the first time that Sparta Prague and AS Monaco are going to face each other in the Champions League.
Sparta Prague did well to beat Rapid Wien in the second qualifying round, but AS Monaco will surely provide a tougher challenge. There are high hopes for Adam Hlozek, with the 19-year old highly-rated and regarded by many as capable of becoming a world-class footballer.
AS Monaco, on the other hand, enjoyed a good season last time around under Niko Kovac.
AS Monaco should be able to win here.
Our prediction: Monaco win @ 1.78
