Prague – Sparta Prague manager Brian Priske received a welcome boost on the injury front as his team prepares for Thursday’s crucial Europa Conference League round of 16 second leg against AZ Alkmaar. Key forward Lukáš Haraslín participated fully in Wednesday’s training session, offering hope that he will be available for selection, according to reports.
The positive news comes as a relief for Priske, who has been grappling with a significant injury list in recent weeks. Haraslín’s return to training, without apparent discomfort, is a significant step forward after a recent muscle injury forced him off the pitch during a match against Slovácko. The club had initially expressed cautious optimism regarding the captain’s condition, and Wednesday’s session appeared to confirm those hopes.
Beyond Haraslín, Sparta Prague is similarly seeing progress in the recovery of defenders Asger Sörensen and midfielder Santiago Eneme. Priske indicated both players are now “ready to potentially play,” providing additional options for the squad. Emmanuel Uchenna, who featured in the first leg against Alkmaar, also appears to be in contention after being held out of the Slovácko match as a precautionary measure.
Foto: Ondřej Deml, ČTK
Coach Sparta Brian Priske during training before the match against AZ Alkmaar
However, the injury situation isn’t entirely positive for Sparta. Defenders Adam Ševínský and Matěj Ryneš were absent from Wednesday’s training session. Ševínský reportedly played through pain in the first leg against AZ Alkmaar and will not be available for the return match. Ryneš was also forced off the field during a previous game and remains a doubt.
Goalkeeper Peter Vindahl remains sidelined, along with Patrik Vydra and Siverts Mannsverk, both suffering from fractures. Long-term absentees Magnus Kofod Andersen, Elias Cobbaut, and Ondřej Penxa continue their rehabilitation. Jakub Martinec and Joao Grimaldo are unavailable for the European tie due to not being registered for the competition.
Priske’s tactical options remain open. Against Slovácko, he surprisingly deployed a four-man defense, a departure from his usual three-center-back system. Seventeen-year-old Hugo Sochůrek earned a start in midfield, showcasing the manager’s willingness to give youth a chance. Upfront, Priske has a wealth of options with Albion Rrahmani, Jan Kuchta, and Matyáš Vojta all vying for a starting spot.
The task facing Sparta Prague is significant. They lost the first leg in the Netherlands 2-1, and will need to overcome that deficit in front of their home supporters at the Letná Stadium. The team will be relying heavily on goalkeeper Jakub Surovčík to replicate his outstanding performance from the first leg, where he kept Sparta in the contest despite facing numerous scoring opportunities from AZ Alkmaar.
The Europa Conference League second leg promises to be a tense affair. Sparta Prague will need to balance defensive solidity with attacking intent to overturn the first-leg deficit and progress to the quarter-finals. The return of key players like Haraslín provides a much-needed boost, but Priske will need to carefully manage his squad and make the right tactical decisions to secure a positive result.
Sparta Prague will face AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, March 20th. Kick-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM CET (8:00 PM GMT).
Archysport will have live coverage of the match, including updates, analysis, and post-match reaction.
