Sparta Prague vs Aris prediction: EUROPE: Europa League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2023-09-20 19:00.
Czech national champions Sparta Prague are in excellent shape ahead of their third UEFA Europa League (UEL) group stage appearance of the 2020s and will be hoping to improve upon their third-placed group finishes in each of the previous two. So too will current head coach Brian Priske, whose only two continental group stage campaigns with Midtjylland and Royal Antwerp saw his sides bottom out in their respective groups.
After yet another authoritative league win, this time to the tune of 5-0 against top-half challengers Slovácko, Sparta sat proudly atop the Fortuna Liga standings. Priske acknowledged that their weekend victory could well be the best of the season so far, praising the hunger, energy and cohesion of the side in what is the second of seven matches in 22 days between international windows.
If they are to get past either of the more fancied Betis and Rangers into the knockout stages, then defeating group minnows Aris Limassol seems key to their chances. The Cypriot First Division foundation members are flying at an all-time high after winning the league for the first time in more than 90 years of history, giving them their first entry into the play-off round of the UEL, which they then converted into a maiden group stage appearance with a 7-4 aggregate win over Slovan Bratislava.
Representing the country as Cyprus’ only group stage participant in UEFA competition this season is something the club and its head coach Aleksey Shpilevsky are taking great pride in, with Aris’ players sporting the hashtag #visitcyprus as well as Shpilevsky and others leading a tourism marketing campaign for the island. Whilst away points could be hard to come by after they lost three of their four UEFA road fixtures in their history (W1), a determined performance can be expected nonetheless.
Players to watch: Whether as a starter or a sub, Victor Olatunji has a habit of making his presence felt late, delivering a goal beyond the 80th minute three times this season including twice in UEFA fixtures. Similarly, Mihlali Mayambela scored after the hour mark in three separate UEFA games for Aris this season.
Hot stat: The pre-match favourite won seven of Aris’ eight UEFA matches since the start of 2022/23 (L1).