Statistical Data Before the Match: Manchester City vs. Sparta Prague
Kick-off: Wednesday, October 23, 21:00 (CEST).
Referees: Mariani – Bindoni, Tegoni – Di Paolo (video, all Italian). You know it’s serious when you have the entire Italian squad on the whistle! Or maybe they just fancy a gastronomical experience in Manchester.
Balance Sheet (Club):
When you look at the historical stats, it’s like Manchester City has been lifting trophies with one hand while giving Sparta Prague a friendly pat on the head with the other! The English clubs have a 63-38-14-11 advantage, scoring an impressive 117 goals while conceding only 48. A scoreline like that usually deserves a standing ovation—and perhaps an awkward hug.
Historical Context:
Yes, I’m going to throw a brief history lesson your way! You may want to take notes.
- 1957/58 PMEZ: Manchester United – Dukla Prague 3:0, 0:1
- 1964/65 PVP: West Ham – Sparta Prague 2:0, 1:2
- 2000/01 LM: Sparta Prague – Arsenal 0:1, 2:4
- 2023/24 EL: Sparta Prague – Liverpool 1:5, 1:6 – Ouch, that stings!
Note: Matches from the Trade Fair Cup and the Intertoto Cup are not included, likely because nobody wants to remember those painful moments.
Estimated Lineups:
Manchester: Ederson; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Guardiol; Kovacic; Sávio, Silva, Gündogan, Doku; Haaland.
Sparta: Vindahl; Vitík, Panák, Sörensen; Preciado, Kairinen, Laci, Ryneš; Birmančevič, Haraslín; Olatunji.
Notable Absences: Ah yes, the injury list! De Bruyne and Rodri are sitting this one out—chances are they’re in the stands watching while their teammates struggle.
Points of Interest:
- The teams have never met in European competitions; it’s like a blind date, only with higher stakes and more at stake!
- Manchester City aims to set a new record in the Champions League if they keep their current home unbeaten streak alive; meanwhile, Sparta would prefer to pretend they never left Prague.
- Both teams are currently clinging onto second place in their league tables, presumably trying to avoid the bosses’ ire!
- Let’s not forget that Manchester City’s manager, Guardiola, once faced Sparta multiple times during his playing career—like a game of football nostalgia!
- And finally, Gündogan will be celebrating his 34th birthday right after the match. Will it be a celebration or a commiseration? Only time will tell!
In conclusion, when these two titans—well, one titan and one slightly-overwhelmed underdog—clash on the field, history is bound to repeat itself. Will Manchester City continue their record-breaking streak, or will Sparta Prague finally break their almost comical losing streak? Only the match will tell, so grab your popcorn and settle in for what could be a night of statistical supremacy!
Statistical data before the match Manchester City – Sparta Prague:
Kick-off: Wednesday, October 23, 21:00 (CEST).
Referees: Mariani – Bindoni, Tegoni – Di Paolo (video, all Italian).
Balance sheet (club):
England – CR (Czechoslovakia) 63 38-14-11 117:48.
1957/58 PMEZ: Manchester United – Dukla Prague 3:0, 0:1,
1961/62 PMEZ: Dukla Prague – Tottenham 1:0, 1:4,
1964/65 PVP: West Ham – Sparta Prague 2:0, 1:2,
1978/79 UEFA: Everton – Dukla Prague 2:1, 0:1,
1980/81 UEFA: Ipswich – Bohemians Prague 3:0, 0:2,
1983/84 PVP: Manchester United – Dukla Prague 1:1, 2:2,
1983/84 UEFA: Watford – Sparta Prague 2:3, 0:4,
1984/85 UEFA: Tottenham – Bohemians Prague 2:0, 1:1,
1990/91 UEFA: Aston Villa – Ostrava 3:1, 2:1,
1994/95 PVP: Chelsea – Žižkov 4:2, 0:0,
1999/00 UEFA: Leeds – Slavia Prague 3:0, 1:2,
2000/01 LM: Sparta Prague – Arsenal 0:1, 2:4,
2000/01 UEFA: Liverpool – Liberec 1:0, 3:2,
2002/03 UEFA: Ipswich – Liberec 1:0, 0:1,
2003/04 LM: Sparta Prague – Chelsea 0:1, 0:0,
2004/05 UEFA: Middlesbrough – Ostrava 3:0, 1:1,
2004/05 LM: Sparta Prague – Manchester United 0:0, 1:4,
2005/06 LM: Sparta Prague – Arsenal 0:2, 0:3,
2006/07 UEFA: Slavia Prague – Tottenham 0:1, 0:1,
2007/08 LM: Sparta Prague – Arsenal 0:2, 0:3,
2007/08 LM: Arsenal – Slavia Prague 7:0, 0:0,
2007/08 UEFA: Slavia Prague – Tottenham 1:2, 1:1,
2008/09 EL: Slavia Prague – Aston Villa 0:1,
2009/10 EL: Everton – Olomouc 4:0, 1:1,
2010/11 EL: Sparta Prague – Liverpool 0:0, 0:1,
2012/13 EL: Sparta Prague – Chelsea 0:1, 1:1,
2013/14 LM: Pilsen – Manchester City 0:3, 2:4,
2016/17 EL: Sparta Prague – Southampton 1:0, 0:3,
2018/19 EL: Slavia Prague – Chelsea 0:1, 3:4,
2020/21 EL: Slavia Prague – Leicester 0:0, 2:0,
2020/21 EL: Arsenal – Slavia Prague 1:1, 4:0,
2023/24 EL: Sparta Prague – Liverpool 1:5, 1:6.
Note: Matches of the Trade Fair Cup and the Intertoto Cup are not included in the overview.
Estimated lineups:
Manchester: Ederson – Lewis, Stones, Dias, Guardiol – Kovacic – Sávio, Silva, Gündogan, Doku – Haaland.
Sparta: Vindahl – Vitík, Panák, Sörensen – Preciado, Kairinen, Laci, Ryneš – Birmančevič, Haraslín – Olatunji.
Absences: De Bruyne, Rodri (both injuries), Bobb (injury + not on the roster), Walker (uncertain start) – Cobbaut (injury), García (injury + not on the roster).
Points of interest:
– the teams have not yet met in the cups
– Manchester has so far only faced Pilsen in the LM group in the 2013/14 season; he won 3:0 on her field, then 4:2 at home
– Sparta won the only one of the last 18 cup duels with English opponents, in March in the round of 16 of the Europa League they lost to Liverpool 1:5 at home and 1:6 away
– Sparta did not win in cups on the field of English teams in 10 out of 11 matches (excluding the Trade Fair Cup) and since November 1983 they have not won there 9 times in a row (including 7 losses)
– Czech teams beat English teams in only one of the last 8 cup matches
– Czech teams have won only one of the past 24 duels on the field of English teams
– Manchester plays the main stage of the European Cups for the 15th consecutive season, in the LM for the 14th year in a row, in the 2022/23 season it dominated the competition for the first time
– Sparta went to the LM through 3 preliminary rounds, in which they did not lose (5 wins, 1 draw), they are playing the main stage for the ninth time and for the first time since 2005/06
– Manchester entered the Champions League with a 0-0 home draw with Inter Milan, then won 4-0 at Slovan Bratislava
– Sparta started the competition with a 3:0 home win over Salzburg, followed by a 1:1 draw in Stuttgart
– Manchester has not lost in the Champions League 25 times in a row; if they don’t go down against Sparta, they will set a new competition record, surpassing city rivals United
– Manchester have not found a winner in 32 consecutive matches at home in the Champions League since September 2018, which is an English record
– Sparta has not lost in cups 8 times in a row (including 6 wins)
– Sparta have not lost 4 times in a row in cups away from home since the 1:6 loss in Liverpool in March (including 3 wins)
– Since December 2001, Sparta has not won 13 times in a row away from home in the main phase of the LM
– Manchester won 2:1 in Wolverhampton in the general game, they have not lost in 12 matches this season and have found a winner in only one of the last 48 competitive duels
– Manchester have not lost 50 consecutive competitive games at home since December 2022
– Sparta beat Liberec 2:1 in the general and won after 3 competitive matches
– the teams are the reigning champions of their countries, they are currently second in their respective leagues
– Manchester won the English league 4 times in a row, which is a record
– Manchester coach Guardiola as a Barcelona player started against Sparta in PMEZ/LM 4 times
– Manchester midfielder Gündogan will celebrate his 34th birthday the day after the match
