Boredom at Letná. Sparta lost to Partizan on a terrible pitch

Sparta failed to win the opening game of the Conference Europa League play-offs, losing 0:1 at home to Partizan. Thegame was decided by Queensy Menig’s second-half goal.

Lazar Markovic had the first chance of the match, but Dominik Holec made a good save. Then Spartans scored twice. Dávid Hancock’s header was knocked away by the goalkeeper, Adam Karabec’s shot was knocked down by the visitors’ defence for a corner.

Partizan threatened again in the 30th minute, but Slobodan Urošević’s attempt was blocked for a corner. That was all of the chances in the first half, there was a lot of hard and combative football and we went into the booths with a goalless draw.

Teenager Martin Vitík gave a good performance for Sparta, getting a chance alongside Ondrej Čelůstka. The mainstay Dávid Hanck also did well.

After the change of sides, the pace continued. Neither team could combine on the bumpy turf, and when Hancko got the ball in the 75th minute, he fouled a defender standing in front of him.

Three minutes later, the goal fell. A long throw in behind the defence found Queensy Menig and he outmuscled Holtz. The team didn’t dare to press and lost 0:1.

They have a lot of work to do in Serbia next week. If they want to think about promotion, the performance must be radically different.

Source: UEFA