Memorable moments: Rosicky scores a stunning goal against Spartak in the Champions League

November 1999, the final match of the Champions League group stage between Sparta Prague and Spartak Moscow. Leten’s team needs a win to finish first in the group, which will be helped by a great solo from the middle of the pitch by the young Tomas Rosicky.

At the turn of the century, Sparta played the Champions League regularly. And they were also quite successful in it, for example, the duels with Real Madrid or Barcelona are memorable.

In the 1999-2000 edition, it faced French Bordeaux, Russian Spartak Moscow and Dutch Willem II in the group stage.

Sparta started the group with two points, first a goalless draw at home to Bordeaux, then a 1-1 draw with Spartak in Russia.

However, the Dutch Willem II was shot out 4:0 at home, and in the rematch in the land of tulips a wild shootout was born, which Sparta won (4:3). Bordeaux was again a goalless draw.

Sparta had nine points, Bordeaux had 11. To finish first in the group, the team from Letna needed to beat Spartak at home and hope for at least a draw with the last-placed Willem.

Sparta thus went into the last duel with Spartak with a good foot. Vratislav Lokvenc opened the scoring in the first minute. In the 11th minute Tomas Rosicky, only 19 years old, received the ball from Michal Horňák in his own half.

A seemingly ordinary situation. But Rosický looked around, shaytlied his way around the Spartak stopper and drove himself at the goal. None of the crossing defenders could keep up with him, so the young super talent headed exactly to the back post.

However, Moscow equalised before half-time thanks to goals from Bulatov and Bezrodny. Right after the change of sides, however, Fukal gave Sparta the lead back, followed by Labant and Lokvenets, and Sparta won 5:2.

And since Bordeaux actually only drew 0:0 at Willem, the summer team won the Champions League group. They advanced to the then group of eight, where they finished third behind Barcelona and Porto.

Source: Youtube, AC Sparta Praha