Prague

Sparta footballers advanced to the final 4th preliminary round of the Champions League. After a 1:1 draw at home, today they won 3:2 at the field of Romanian FCSB. They will face Malmö for the first participation in the main stage of the “millionaire” competition after 19 years. They will play their first game next week in Sweden. The Czech champions are at least certain of the European League, in which they reached the round of 16 last season.

Letenští scored all three goals in Bucharest already in the first half. Veljko Birmančevič scored twice, one of them from the penalty spot, Lukáš Haraslín added another hit. In the second half, however, the guests made their way to progress more complicated. First, after an hour of play, Darius Olara brought down and in the 85th minute, substitute Malcom Edjouma added another goal for the home team. The Praguers resisted the final pressure of their opponents.

Sparta defeated FCSB in the cups for the first time at the sixth attempt and avenged their eight-year-old elimination in the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League. She did not lose even in the eighth competitive match of the season, of which she won the seventh.

Due to the summer concerts, FCSB is not currently playing at the National Stadium, but at the smaller Steaua Stadium, which was completely filled with spectators today. The match was watched by 28,875 fans.

In Sparta’s starting line-up, Olatunji replaced Kuchta, who equalized 1:1 in the opening match a week ago. The guests started actively and scored in the 13th minute. Captain Sörensen’s header from Haraslín’s corner center was still stopped by Lixandra on the goal line, but Birmančević made no mistake from the crossbar.

At the opposite end, Ngezana headed into Vindahl’s gloves. The Danish goalkeeper then found Olatunji with a long throw, whose shot was covered by Tarnovanu.

In the 26th minute, Dawa fouled Olatunji in a header and referee Krogh, after some hesitation, awarded a penalty. Birmančević took on the responsibility, and he transformed it without any problems. The Serbian winger scored his fifth goal in the competitive season and his sixth two-goal match in Sparta’s jersey.

In the 37th minute, Birmančević’s cross found Haraslín in the box and he added a third goal for the guests with a good shot at the far post. The Slovakian representative scored the second competitive goal of the season. From the Spartan sector, where there were over 170 fans, chants of “fuck them” began to be heard.

Shortly after, Olatunji headed over from Haraslín’s cross. Haraslín ended the subsequent combination action with a shot into the side net.

After an hour of play, captain Olara was brought down with a shot from behind the box. The home team created optical pressure in places, but they could not gain a foothold for a long time. But in the 85th minute, Olaru crossed into the penalty area and substitute Edjouma put FCSB in range with his head. However, in the five-minute setup, Sparta did not allow an equalizer and celebrated the promotion.

FCSB has lost at home in the cups after four games and awaits the qualification of the Europa League with Linz.

FCSB – Sparta Prague 2:3 (0:3)

Goals: 60. Olaru, 85. Edjouma – 13. and 28. from pen. Birmančevič, 37. Haraslín. Referees: Krogh – Rasmussen, Bramsen (all Danish) – Van Boekel (video, Dutch). ŽK: Olaru, Baluta, Charalambous (coach), Lixandra, Tarnovanu – Preciado, Sörensen, Birmančevič, Kuchta, Friis (coach). Spectators: 28.875. First match: 1:1, Sparta advanced.

FCSB: Tarnovanu – Cretu, Dawa, Ngezana, Radunovič – Sut (46. Edjouma), Lixandru (71. Alhassan) – Stefanescu (46. Baeten), Olaru, Baluta (46. Popa) – Miculescu. Coach: Charalambus.

Sparta: Vindahl – Vitík, Sörensen, Zelený – Preciado (53. Wiesner), Laci (84. Sadílek), Kairinen, Ryneš – Birmančevič (83. Solbakken), Haraslín (68. Daněk) – Olatunji (68. Kuchta). Coach: Friis.

Sparta footballers won 2:1 on the Bohemians 1905 field in the 4th league round and secured the lead in the incomplete table. Júsuf Hilál opened the score of the Prague derby for the home side, Indrit Tuci equalized for the visitors before the break and Veljko Birmančevič scored the winning goal in the second half. On Tuesday, Sparta will face FCSB in the 3rd preliminary round of the Champions League in Bucharest.

The defending champion is the only one who has not lost a single point in the new season. After today’s victory, Sparta has lost only one of the last 35 league matches against Bohemians. Vršovičtí have not beaten it at home in the league since November 2001 seventeen times in a row.

Letenští started with six changes in the starting line-up against Tuesday’s match with FCSB (1:1). Two of the freshmen also had their first chances. Already in the fourth minute, Daněk freed Wiesner, who crashed on the goalkeeper from close range. And when the Spartan pair switched roles, Reichl brilliantly knocked out Daňko’s sharp blow. The home team then only defended themselves, the goalkeeper kept them even when Kairinen’s shot or Ryneš’s chance, who replaced the injured García.

“Kangaroos” they took advantage of that and opened the scoring with the first serious chance. Hilál got into a fast break, escaped Ross and beat Vindahl. The Bahraini forward scored his 21st goal in the Czech league. Tuci equalized with a volley.The Albanian striker scored his first goal in his tenth start in the Czech league.

The favorite turned the score around after the break. Substitute Haraslín escaped down the wing, sent a pass to the back post, where Birmančević easily headed into the open goal. The Serbian international played against Bohemians in the third league derby and scored their fourth goal. Sparta has already secured three points, but has not yet used a number of other promising chances.