Sparta lost 1-2 to Lille
Sparta fought for a long time in Lille. We got to the lead in ten players but Ylmaz turned the match by two goals. So it will be the end in the Europa League after the match with AC Milan.
Head coach Václav Kotal used three defenders. Pavelka returned to the game in the middle of the field, Laco Krejčí started on the left side. Filip Souček made his debut in the line-up in the Europa League.
The first opportunity came in the 24th minute and Sparta had it. Pavelka got a great ball in the box. Unfortunately, he overshot the goal.
After half an hour, Lille had a first big chance. Yazici found Araújo the box. Florin Nita caught the ball by a great save!
Then Lille threatened. In the 34th minute Araújo was on the right side, fired but missed the far post.
Six minutes before the half-time, the ball bounced in front of the box to Bamba. Fortunately, he overshot the goal.
In the 42nd minute. Yazici crosses to Bamba, Plechatý tried to stop the ball but it bounced from his foot to Sparta's goal. Florin Nita made a fantastic tiger jump and stopped the ball on the goal line.
And another big chance for Lille came at the very end of the half. Yazici found André from the free kick and he hit the bar! This time Lille did not score a late goal before the half so 0-0.
And Lille threatened after the half-time. Nita performed another fantastic save when he caught David after a quick action.
And the Canadian had a huge chance a moment later. He already got a ball behind Nita but he was disarmed by LK37!
In the 56th minute, Yazici found Xeka from the free kick, he hit Nita in the head. It was a corner after it.
Huge complication came after an hour of play. Čelůstka have seen two yellow cards during few minutes and was sent off. Even this time, Sparta did not finish against Lille in eleven players.
But then came a shock for a home team. Dočkal passed the ball to Plavšić, he crossed to LK37, he headed and sent Sparta to the lead!
However, the home coach made a great double substitution. Ten minutes before the end, Weah found Ylmaz and equalized. And the Turkish striker even turned the game because he added one more goal four minutes later.
In the very end, Sparta tried to equalize. Nita went to the goal. Lille goalie bounced off the ball to Plavšić and he sent it to the empty goal. But the referee saw an offensive foul.
No more happened, Sparta lost to 1-2 to Lille. AC Milan won the match against Celtic 4-2. Sparta's journey in the Europea League will end next week with a duel against AC Milan.