Aberdeen Prepares for Final Conference League Match Against Sparta Prague
Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin is determined to field "the best team available" in their upcoming match against Sparta Prague, despite the fact that their final Conference League game is essentially a dead rubber.
A recent 1-0 defeat at home to Strasbourg has dashed the Scottish Premiership side's already slim chances of advancing to the knockout stages.
As a result, Aberdeen, currently ranked 33rd out of the 36 teams in the competition, will only have their pride at stake when they face Sparta in the Czech capital on Thursday.
Thelin stated, "We have a strong competition within the squad, but we are going to try to put the best team we can on the pitch. Players want to play in the starting XI; they want to grow, and we need to develop the capacity to perform consistently from Thursday to Sunday. This is a good opportunity for us."
So far, Aberdeen has managed to secure just two points from their five matches in the competition, with five of their opponents ranked among the top 10 teams in the table.
The team drew with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus and at home against Armenia's Noah, but suffered losses against Shakhtar Donetsk at Pittodrie and away to AEK Athens.
Thelin remarked, "We are up against a very strong opponent, and for us, it is important to prove that we are also a good team. We will embrace the challenge and aim to win the game."
Although Aberdeen has nothing tangible to gain, their opponents, currently sixth in the tournament standings, need a victory to secure direct progression to the round of 16 and avoid the knockout phase play-offs.
Thelin noted, "We have faced really good teams, and I feel that the squad has developed from the play-offs into the group phase. Many players have learned valuable lessons about the demands of performing on a Thursday and Sunday."
He added, "We have performed well in the league following our European matches, so it is crucial for us to demonstrate our growth tomorrow and again on Sunday."
Team News
Aberdeen will be without injured players Kristers Tobers and Gavin Molloy. Aside from that, Thelin indicated that it will be "the same squad as before," although some players are dealing with minor issues.
Sparta Prague, on the other hand, is missing several injured players, including midfielders Magnus Kofod Andersen and Dominik Holly, as well as defenders Emmanuel Uchenna and Elias Cobbaut. Additionally, midfielder Santiago Eneme is currently participating in the Africa Cup of Nations with Equatorial Guinea.
What We Know About Sparta
While Sparta is already assured a spot in the play-off round, they still need to win to maintain their position in the top eight and secure a direct entry into the last 16. This, combined with the fact that this is their final match before a six-week winter break, reduces their incentive to rotate their squad compared to Aberdeen.
Brian Priske's side remains unbeaten in their last four matches and has lost only one of their last nine. However, a lack of victories has seen them fall seven points behind Slavia Prague.
In the Conference League, aside from a convincing 4-1 home victory over Shamrock Rovers, their matches have been closely contested, often decided by a single goal.
Key away victories over Legia Warsaw and Universitatea Craiova have propelled Sparta to sixth place, while their only defeat came during a chaotic match against Rijeka, which had to be resumed the following day due to heavy rain.
Sparta employs a 3-4-3 formation, with captain Lukas Haraslin, positioned on the left of the front three, serving as a crucial player. The 49-cap Czech Republic international has recorded five goals and five assists this season, including the decisive assist in their last match in Romania.
Kosovo striker Albion Rrahmani leads the team with 12 goals, while fellow Czech international Jan Kuchta has contributed nine. The squad boasts significant European and international experience and has lost just once in 15 home games this season, presenting a formidable challenge for Aberdeen.
What They Said
Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet: "We are on a great run of form in the league, and while we didn’t accumulate enough points in the competition, this is another opportunity for us to take a step forward as a team and aim for three points."
Sparta Prague head coach Brian Priske: "Aberdeen has had some strong performances in the Conference League. Despite a tough match in Athens, they have been close to earning more points than they have."
Sparta Prague captain Lukas Haraslin: "I expected a typical British style of play, but after watching their games, I feel like we are facing a team that plays with a Spanish flair. I anticipate a very competitive match."
Match Stats
Aberdeen is currently sixth in the Scottish Premiership, while Sparta is second in the Czech First League, trailing Slavia Prague by seven points.
In the Conference League, Sparta is sixth, with Aberdeen positioned 33rd out of 36 teams and unable to qualify for the knockout stage.
Aberdeen has lost only once in their last ten outings, while Sparta has faced a single defeat in their last nine.
Sparta has not won their last four home games, whereas Aberdeen remains unbeaten in their last four away fixtures.
This will be the second encounter for Aberdeen against Czech opposition, having previously lost 8-1 on aggregate to Sigma Olomouc in the 2009-10 Europa League qualifiers.
Sparta has played against Scottish teams 12 times, winning seven and losing three.
The last Scottish team to face Sparta was Rangers, who drew 0-0 in Prague and secured a 2-1 victory at Ibrox during the 2023-24 Europa League group stage.
Sparta has never lost to Scottish teams at home, winning four of their six encounters.