Sparta failed both on the field and in the stands! Partizan is in a better position before the rematch. How does the public react?

Sparta Prague could go into the Europa League match with a calm head. They hadn’t lost on Czech turf since the start of spring, but it was a different story for the Serbian league leaders. Sparta lost 0:1 to Partizan and will have to erase a one-goal deficit in Serbia. How is the public reacting to the match?

All wrong from the start. The torn up Letna pitch sent the match into a duel full of simplicity and intensity. Absolutely ideal conditions for an opponent who had several strong players.

The nature of the match was absolutely ideal for Ladislav Krejci Jr., but he couldn’t play due to injury and it was once again confirmed that this player is the most basic building block for Sparta.

Another disgrace was of course the government’s decision not to allow Sparta to fill the stadium to at least partial capacity, so only 1,000 fans could come to Letná. Moreover, some Spartan season ticket holders handed over their tickets to Partizan fans.

They then more or less out-fanned the home crowd at an empty Letná. Anyway, the hopes for promotion are far from lost! A one-goal deficit is not a big deal, in cup mathematics the power of an away goal no longer applies and all goals, home or away, have the same weight.

Public reaction

Journalist Jan Vacek explained the situation around Partizan fans and also classically evaluated the positives and negatives of the opening match in the knockout part of the EKL.

“The Partizan fans who are in the away sector got their tickets through the ACS season ticket office. It is no secret that both factions are very close to each other. In a week’s time, the same will be reciprocated, with the Serbs in Belgrade helping ACS fans to get in.”

“It would be nice if they refrained from being offended by players complaining on the pitch. It’s not the same for both teams when one comes to play speculative football and the other is set up to create but has to kick on. Especially what about afterwards when you have to play at home all the time.”

“Everything wrong today. As many people in the outdoor stadium as in a village disco under a roof. Partizan had the home crowd. A decent start, chances. Then a spasm, 2nd half crazy. A pitch where you can’t play football. The coach doesn’t know the cup rules. Shame.”

“Sparta didn’t get the standard ones, they had several from dangerous areas and I think there was one dangerous chance at the end. I also noticed that Hložek was getting a lot of balls with his back to goal, he wasn’t getting on the run at all, Partizan dealt with it easily.”

Sources: Ondřej Zlámal, No. 34, Jan Vacek, Martin Vait