| | PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Sparta Prague has no other
option other than to go for an all-out victory against Barcelona in its final Group A match in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Sparta, which lost 5-0 at Barcelona in December, is still in, with a mathematical chance of reaching the quarterfinals of the
competition after battling back to salvage a 2-2 draw at Porto
last week after trailing 2-0.
But even Sparta succeeds in becoming the first team to beat Barcelona in Europe this season, the victory alone will not be
enough to get it into the last eight. Sparta has to rely on
Porto, currently second with two more points, losing to Hertha
Berlin in Germany.
Barcelona, quoted by London bookmakers as the favorite to
lift the Cup in Paris in May, has won eight and drawn three of its 11 Champions League matches this season -- with a
goal differential of 34-13.
It seems unlikely that the Czech champions can become the first this season to defeat Barca, but Sparta boosted its confidence with a 4-1 victory at mid-table Ceske Budejovice in the Czech League on Saturday, with an excellent performance from striker Vratislav Lokvenc.
The lanky striker scored all four Sparta goals, extending
his record to seven in three consecutive matches, including one
in last week's draw at Porto.
"Barcelona have already qualified, they could underestimate
us a little," said Lokvenc. "If we are lucky and repeat the
performance against Budejovice, we could surprise them. It would
be wonderful to win 1-0."
Sparta midfielders Martin Hasek and Pavel Hapal are injured
and Miroslav Baranek is suspended, but coach Ivan Hasek welcomed
back to the squad defensive midfielder Roman Lengyel, who has
recovered from flu.
Barcelona coach Louis van Gaal has promised a fully
committed display from his side, but could still decide to rest
a couple of key players, including playmaker Pep Guardiola, who
was taken off towards the end of Saturday's 2-1 league victory
over Deportivo La Coruna due to fatigue.
That win over Deportivo has taken Barca to within two points
of the Spanish league leaders, and the Catalan side can now eye a possible Champions League, Spanish league and cup treble.
"We have a lot of confidence in ourselves," said Dutch
central defender Frank de Boer. "If we maintain our level of
form until the end of the season, then anything is possible."
Barcelona's Portuguese striker Luis Figo and defender
Fernandez Abelardo are unavailable after deliberately receiving
second yellow cards in last week's 3-1 victory against Hertha, to
be clear for the next stage.
Frenchman Frederic Dehu should slot straight in in place of
Abelardo, with Simao Sabrosa and Mario Rosas vying for Figo's
position as right-sided attacker.
Probable teams:
Sparta Prague: 96-Jaromir Blazek; 2-Petr Gabriel, 8-Jiri
Novotny, 13-Rene Bolf, 27-Milan Fukal; 6-Zdenek Svoboda, 20-Jiri
Jarosik, 25-Tomas Rosicky, 78-Roman Lengyel; 9-Vratislav
Lokvenc, 14-Libor Sionko.
Barcelona: 1-Ruud Hesp; 32-Carles Puyol, 22-Frank de Boer,
3-Frederic Dehu, 17-Winston Bogarde; 26-Xavi Hernandez, 6-Ronald
de Boer, 8-Philip Cocu; 20-Simao Sabrosa, 11-Rivaldo, 9-Patrick
Kluivert.
Referee: Rune Pedersen (Norway)
| |
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