League UE CHAMPIONS
Match SPARTA PRAGUE vs FENERBAHCE
Match No. 0506
Sales Close ^ 23/11/04 9:00PM
1X2
Home 2.07 <2.07>
Draw 3.20 <3.20>
Away 3.00 <3.00>
1/2 GOAL
Home SPARTA PRAGUE (-1½) 3.50 <3.50>
Away FENERBAHCE (+1½) 1.23 <1.23>
TOTAL GOALS
No. of Goals
0 7.50 <7.50>
1 4.30 <4.30>
2 3.80 <3.80>
3 3.80 <3.80>
4 5.60 <5.60>
5 8.50 <8.50>
6 16.00 <16.00>
7 30.00 <30.00>
8 65.00 <65.00>
9+ 100.00 <100.00>
HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE
Selection
H-H 3.50 <3.50>
H-D 11.00 <11.00>
H-A 23.00 <23.00>
D-H 5.10 <5.10>
D-D 5.50 <5.50>
D-A 6.20 <6.20>
A-H 21.00 <21.00>
A-D 11.00 <11.00>
A-A 6.20 <6.20>
More than pride at stake in Prague
Although Fenerbahçe SK can still harbour hopes of advancing to the knockout stages of the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League, more realistically they and their matchday five opponents, AC Sparta Praha, are battling for a third-placed finish in their group and a spot in the UEFA Cup.
A Pierre van Hooijdonk goal separated the sides in Istanbul, but AC Sparta Praha are unbeaten at home against Turkish opposition
Van Hooijdonk winner
The Turkish side gained the upper hand on the opening matchday in Istanbul thanks to Pierre van Hooijdonk's goal after 16 minutes, but have conceded 13 goals in their subsequent three matches providing Sparta with some additional hope for the meeting in the Czech capital. The Czechs have held Manchester United FC to a scoreless draw and lost by the odd goal in three to Olympique Lyonnais to date at home, with their other defeat coming at Old Trafford on matchday four.
Previous meeting
The first time these clubs met in European club competition also signalled the first time both Sparta came up against Turkish opposition and Fenerbahçe faced Czech opponents. The 1989/90 European Champion Clubs' Cup provided the opportunity for Sparta and Fenerbahçe to lock horns, with Hakan Tecimer putting the visitors ahead prior to the break only for Ivan Cabala and Michal BÃlak (2) to swing the tie back in the Czech sides favour by the end. Chasing the game, Fenerbahçe then fell behind at home to Ivan Hašek's 39th-minute goal, and though Ogun Çetin levelled eight minutes from time, there was still enough time for Sparta to make it two wins from two when Petar Novak added their second six minutes later.
Fortress Prague
Since then, Sparta have since met teams from Turkey on four occasions, taking the opportunity to extend their 100% record in the Czech capital to five matches, although they have yet to secure their second success Turkish soil. Their most recent engagement came in the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League group stage where the Czech side defeated Besiktas JK 2-1 at home thanks to goals from LukᚠZelenka (58 minutes) and Karel Poborský (85 minutes) which sandwiched Daniel Pancu's goal (60 minutes) for the visitors. In the return match two weeks later, Besiktas prevailed due to Ronaldo Guiaro's winner eight minutes from time.
Embarrassing defeat
Excluding the opening day meeting between the two sides, Fenerbahçe have had only one encounter with Czech opposition since 1989, winning the opening leg of their 1992/93 UEFA Cup second round engagement against SK Sigma Olomouc in Istanbul courtesy of Ismail Kartal's 36th-minute penalty. However, Jozef Venglos' side endured a humiliating 7-1 defeat in Olomouc in the return leg, a result that was one goal shy of Fenerbahçe's record defeat in 108 matches in European competitions to date.
Head to Head
2004/2005
European Cup Fenerbahce 1-0 Sparta Prague 15-09-2004
1989/1990
European Cup Fenerbahce 1-2 Sparta Prague 27-09-1989
European Cup Sparta Prague 3-1 Fenerbahce 13-09-1989
League UE CHAMPIONS
Match SPARTA PRAGUE vs FENERBAHCE
Match No. 0506
Sales Close ^ 23/11/04 9:00PM
1X2
Home 1.95 <2.07>
Draw 3.30 <3.20>
Away 3.20 <3.00>
1/2 GOAL
Home SPARTA PRAGUE (-1½) 3.50 <3.50>
Away FENERBAHCE (+1½) 1.23 <1.23>
TOTAL GOALS
No. of Goals
0 7.50 <7.50>
1 4.30 <4.30>
2 3.80 <3.80>
3 3.80 <3.80>
4 5.60 <5.60>
5 8.50 <8.50>
6 16.00 <16.00>
7 30.00 <30.00>
8 65.00 <65.00>
9+ 100.00 <100.00>
HALF / FULL TIME DOUBLE
Selection
H-H 3.40 <3.50>
H-D 11.00 <11.00>
H-A 24.00 <23.00>
D-H 5.00 <5.10>
D-D 5.50 <5.50>
D-A 6.30 <6.20>
A-H 22.00 <21.00>
A-D 11.00 <11.00>
A-A 6.40 <6.20>
CL Preview: Sparta Prague-Fenerbahce
While Lyon and Manchester United look favourite to progress to the knock-out phase from Group D, Sparta Prague and Fenerbahce are contesting at least a Uefa Cup spot - though technically Fenerbahce can still qualify for the next round. But both teams are without key players for TuesdayÂ’s encounter
BACKGROUND
Sparta will be looking to restore some pride with a first win in the Champions League group stage. Frantisek Straka’s team are currently bottom of Group D, having picked up a solitary point from their four matches so far. They are already out of the next round, but could make it into the Uefa Cup. Defeat would end their chance of a third-place finish. But victory would take them above Fenerbahçe with one game to go. The Turkish side have lost all their group games since the opening 1-0 win over Sparta in September.
However, the Czech side will be without some key players – including highly influential midfielder Karel Poborsky - as they attempt to move off the bottom. But coach Straka believes the players who come in are capable of doing a good job for the team. And he is optimistic his side can get a result against the Turkish side.
"My assistant Miroslav Jirkal saw the last match of Fenerbahce in the league. They played with just with one forward," Straka noted.
"But this does not mean we are going to play mindless attacking soccer. They certainly know how to attack well. We have to tighten up in midfield and not allow them to combine there.
"I still think that the last round will decide the third place. We will have to get points in Lyon, I do not believe that Manchester United will win in Turkey."
SpartaÂ’s impressive midfielder Lukas Zelenka is braced for a difficult match after their 1-0 defeat in Istanbul.
"We did not deserve to lose in Turkey, we have to play the same type of game, not concede possession and try to put them under pressure," he said.
Domestically, SpartaÂ’s good run was halted earlier this month when they went down to their first league defeat of the season at home to Mlada Boleslav. However, they recovered to record two victories in the next two weeks. The 3-1 league win against FK Jablonec 97 on Saturday maintained SpartaÂ’s lead at the top of the Czech First Division, but Champions League football has proved much more challenging to StrakaÂ’s squad, who are still without a win and have scored only twice in four games.
Fenerbahce were met with rain and even some snow in the Czech capital on arrival. But they’d travelled to Prague encouraged by Saturday’s 2-0 league win at Trabzonspor. Alex with a penalty and Tuncay Sanli scored their goals, although Fener were reduced to ten men for much of the game following a red card for Marcia Nobre after 37 minutes. The win took Fenerbahçe five points clear at the top of the Turkish Superleague.
Fenerbahçe need victory to have any hope of making the knockout rounds. They were unable to build on their good start in beating Sparta, losing 6-2 at Manchester United and then going down 3-1 and 4-2 in their two games against Olympique Lyonnais.
A second win against Sparta Prague though, and defeat for United at home to Lyon, would mean Fenerbahçe could go through by beating United in Istanbul on Matchday 6. However, Fener’s coach, Christoph Daum, has already ruled out overhauling United and is focusing on securing a Uefa Cup campaign.
"Before the Champions League, I said it would be very difficult for us to succeed and I was harshly criticised for that," Daum said. "But that is the reality - this team needs two more years before it can compete in a competition like this. We can succeed in the Uefa Cup though."
TEAM NEWS
Sparta: Poborsky and defender Jiri Homola are both suspended, while midfielder Rastislav Michalik (hamstring) and defender Pavel Pergl (ankle) are sidelined through injury. Straka said: "PoborskyÂ’s absence is of course a great loss for us. We will miss him badly - he is a team leader. Also the other players belong to the team and we would have been much stronger with them. But there is no point beating ourselves up over it, we are going to have to come to terms with it. Our squad is big enough to manage the situation, and the new players will have a chance to prove their quality."
Jiri Koubsky and Marek Cech have also been struggling with flu this week but both are expected to be available. Former Bayer Leverkusen star Jan Simak looks likely to deputise for Poborsky.
"It is one of the options," said Straka. "It is a great challenge for him. He wants to work hard, and I like his attitude. Every minute of play he gets improves his performance."
Meanwhile, Petr Vorisek may replace the injured Pergl, while if he recovers, Slovakian defender Cech could return to the defence after having spent most of the season in the reserves.
Fenerbahce: Pierre van Hooijdonk, the match-winner when the teams met in September on Matchday 1, was absent for the Turkish champions last weekend with flu and an Achilles injury and will miss the game.
Preview - Sparta vs Fenerbahce
Sparta Prague will be without several key players as they bid to restore some pride with their first win in the Champions League group stage in their penultimate match against Fenerbahce on Tuesday.
Frantisek Straka's team lie bottom of Group D having picked up just one point from their four matches ahead of the clash with the Turkish side who have lost all their group games since the opening 1-0 win over Sparta back in September.
But they will be without a number of influential figures as they look to move off the foot of the table.
Winger Karel Poborsky and defender Jiri Homola are suspended, while midfielder Rastislav Michalik (hamstring) and defender Pavel Pergl(ankle) are sidelined through injury.
Straka is upbeat, however, and wants the players who come in to prove they are capable of doing a job.
He said: ``Poborsky's absence is of course a great loss for us. He is our leader. ``Also the other players belong to the team and we would have been much stronger with them. It is no good crying over this, our squad is big enough to manage the situation, and the new players will have a chance to prove their quality.''
Jiri Koubsky and Marek Cech have also been struggling with flu this week but are expecting to be available for the clash.
Former Bayer Leverkusen star Jan Simak looks set to deputise for Poborsky. ``It is one of the options,'' Straka explained.
``It is a great challenge for him. He wants to work hard, and I like his attitude. Every minute of play he gets improves his performance.''
Petr Vorisek may replace the injured Pergl, while Slovakian defender Cech, health permitting, looks set for a return to the defence after having spent most of the season in the reserve team.
``My assistant Miroslav Jirkal saw the last match of Fenerbahce in the league, they played with just with one forward,'' Straka added ahead of the clash.
``But this does not mean we are going to play mindless attacking soccer. They certainly know how to attack well, we have to tighten up in midfield and not allow them to combine there.
``I still think that the last round will decide the third place, we will have to get points in Lyon, I do not believe that Manchester United will win in Turkey.''
Midfielder Lukas Zelenka knows his team can expect a difficult match after their 1-0 defeat in the return fixture back in September.
``We did not deserve to lose in Turkey, we have to play the same type of game, not concede possession and try to put them under pressure,'' he said.
Sparta's excellent domestic run came to an end earlier this month when they went down to their first league defeat of the season at home to Mlada Boleslav, but the Gambrinus Liga leaders bounced back with two victories in the following two weeks.
Fenerbahce set off for Prague boosted by Saturday's 2-0 win at Trabzonspor but were greeted with rain and even snow on arrival in the Czech capital.
Alex, from the penalty spot, and Tuncay Sanli netted the goals, although Fenerbahce played for much of the game with 10 men following the dismissal of Marcia Nobre in the 37th minute.
Pierre van Hooijdonk, the match-winner when the teams met in September, was absent for the Turkish champions last weekend with flu and an Achilles injury.
Group B news
All eyes will be on Group B on Tuesday as Real Madrid look to bounce back from their humiliating defeat to Barcelona in La Liga. RealÂ’s trip to Germany in their first match against Leverkusen saw the Spanish side comprehensively beaten