The double match with Lyon can give Sparta a lot of clues about the (non)promotion. Points mean promotion, Vrba knows

Sparta enters the double-header with Lyon in a pretty good position. After a draw with Brondby and a win against Rangers, she has 4 points, her opponents in the relegation battle have one or zero. Any point with Lyon would be an extra point, but it would help a lot.

The Flyers may have wanted to start the group with a win in Denmark, but they fixed their appetite at Rangers. With a 1: 0 win, they go into the double-header with Lyon in a good position, if they hadn’t beaten the Scottish side it would have been an uncomfortable situation. The current situation in the table is as follows:

The top two teams in the group will qualify for the knockout stage of the Europa League, the third team in the table will play in the Conference League play-offs. Sparta would like to reach at least one of these three places.

The double-header with Lyon will give a lot of clues. If Sparta lose both games, they will pray that the Brondby and Rangers duels are not won by the same team twice. The very ideal scenario would be two draws, or for a different team to win each match.

If Brondby wins twice, they will have 7 points and a three point lead on Sparta. If Rangers win both games, they will have 6 points and a two point lead on Sparta.

Sparta will then play Rangers at home and close their group with a home game against Brondby. They should be able to cope with their Danish opponents, but by then they may not have promotion in their hands.

The best option would be to make something out of the double match against Lyon. Every point can be worth gold, which coach Pavel Vrba knows very well.

“I have a lot of respect for them, but at the same time I want us to do our best. Any points can mean a promotion to the spring cups, that’s what we want,” Vrba said at the press conference.

Source: AC Sparta Prague, Livesport