Sparta did not entertain at the start of the Europa League group. They take a goalless draw from Denmark

Five days ago, Sparta lost to Plzeň in Doosan Arena, and on Thursday they had a much longer trip. In the opening match of this year’s Europa League, Vrbas’ charges drew 0:0 with Danish champion Brøndby IF.

The opening ten minutes were marked by inaccuracies. While Sparta were losing only in more developed situations or after interesting extra ideas, Brondby had problems with the basic set-up even with a three-defender system.

Haraslin benefited from a careful press in the 9th minute, but only won a corner from a gain in the opponents’ goal. Right from the start, the Danish team’s players felt the toughness of Sparta’s players in addition to the intense press.

The newly composed defence of Polidar, Hancko, Čelůstka, Wiesner scored at least one sharp tackle each in the opening minutes. Only Čelůstka managed to play within the rules.

In the opening half hour, the most interesting performances in the 30,000 strong Brøndby IF stand were by the home fans. Apart from the raucous atmosphere, there was not a single major chance, or perhaps a shot on target. The Danish team took the chances, but it didn’t bear fruit except for one sniff in front of Florin Nita’s goal after a centre into the box.

In the 33rd minute, Haraslin got a bit of space after a turnover in the middle. He took advantage of it with an overhit centre to Pesek, but his shot after bouncing over the home goalkeeper Hermansen endangered the fans in the stands.

But worse news than the failed finish came a few minutes later. Polidar hurt himself while fighting off a turnover in his own half and left the field with pain in his left shoulder. He was replaced by Andreas Vindheim, not very experienced this season.

The players went into the booths without recording a single shot on goal, both teams presented themselves with a particularly precise defensive performance, which is in line with Vrba’s pre-match plans, but on the other hand also clashes with his statement about Sparta’s current state.

“We want to play better defensively here than in the league with Plzeň and we want to be successful offensively, as we have been in recent games. Our problem is not in the offensive phase, but rather in the fact that we have scored enough goals now,” the Letná coach revealed his recipe for Brøndby before the game.

Both teams entered the second half much more active. Haraslín missed the net after a volley from a few dozen metres. The home team also threatened from a counter-attack, but neither Hancko nor Brøndby’s striker hit the ball.

In the 56th minute, Hložek, who was otherwise quite aloof, made a confident foray into the opposition goalmouth. However, after the fall, like with Pesek a few minutes earlier, no penalty was given.

Although there were more players on the pitch who were not having their most successful game, Pavel Vrba made his first tactical substitution in the 64th minute. In a piece-for-piece substitution, Haraslína was replaced by Karlsson.

The fresh-faced winger then broke the offensive misery in the 71st minute and scored his first accurate shot of the match. But a bouncing ball from outside the box did not put the home goalkeeper in trouble.

A couple of minutes later, Pešek tried Hermansen’s attention, but his shot was far from being “dangerous”. It’s a pity, considering that he was already in a one-on-one situation from the halfway line.

And for the third time, all the good things didn’t work out for Sparta. After a corner, Hancko headed in the last ten minutes. This time, even the ending player of Letenske did well, but Hermansen also did his job on the goal line, who also made a third accurate finish for the guests with a great save.

Adam Hložek closed the match in the third minute with a sharp shot to the goalkeeper’s chest, so Sparta left Denmark with a point and a clean sheet. Although it was an away game, more could and should have been extracted from the match. The bitter aftertaste of the point is added by the not very good gameplay from both teams and the greater number of chances created in favour of the Czech team.

CT Sport, SofaScore