Southampton vs Sparta Prague: Europa League Preview & Prediction

Claude Puel’s men will entertain Czech giants Sparta Prague on Thursday evening at St Mary’s in what will be Southampton’s first outing in the Europa League group stages.

Last season saw the Saints fall short at the final qualifying round, losing to Danish side FC Midtjylland, but the Frenchman will be looking to use the competition as a springboard to launch a season which is yet to get going on the South Coast.

Two defeats and two draws in their opening Premier League games means many questions remain following the loss of Ronald Koeman to Everton alongside a host of first-team players including Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle.

In contrast, Sparta Prague have reached the knockout stages in three of the last four seasons, eventually losing out to Villarreal in the quarter-finals last term.

Zdenek Scasny’s men entered the Champions League in the qualifying stages this term, only to be knocked out by Steaua București, who eventually went on to lose out to Manchester City in the following round.

Domestically they have taken 14 points from their first six games in the Czech Synot Ligaso and should not be short of confidence for the trip to St Mary’s.

Southampton’s key man, Redmond – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Team News:

It remains to be seen how much manager Puel will choose to rotate during this season’s Europa League matches.

The likes of Ryan Bertrand may well be rested having recently returned from injury, whilst the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg both didn’t play against Arsenal, so could be brought into midfield.

Nathan Redmond has put in some encouraging performances so far, but Charlie Austin and Shane Long could well be in consideration.

Sparta Prague will be relying on the goals of David Lafata to cause problems on Thursday night, whilst ex-Arsenal man Tomas Rosicky will provide the creativity in midfield.

League Positions: Southampton – 2pts (18th); Sparta Prague – 14pts (2nd)
Previous Meeting: First competitive meeting
Form: Southampton – WWDLDL; Sparta Prague – WDWWWD
Key Men: Sparta Prague – David Lafata; Southampton – Nathan Redmond
Shoot! Says: Southampton 2 – 1 Sparta Prague