Coach Jílek made two changes after the match against Baník. Tetteh replaced Kozák and Krejčí returned to the line-up instead of injured Mandjeck. The first shot on the goal came in the fourth minute when Potočný tried it from behind the box. But he just found ready Florin Nita.
On the other side, our first chance made by Tetteh for Sáček. He fired from the border of the box too high. The home team had a great chance in the tenth minute. Hancko made a mistake and Liberec went 2 on 1. But Potočný didn’t pass well and Nita caught the ball.
After another fifteen minutes Slovan threatened from a corner kick. The ball landed exactly on Fukala's head, but fortunately the ball came just in middle of the goal where Nita was ready.
Three minutes before the break Plavšić went to the goal and was stopped in the last possible moment by Kačaraba before the box.
Sparta then had several moments, such as when Hacko fired from a free kick and Nguyen saved or when Plavšić passed from other free kick to Hložek. But Hložek did not finish well.
The only goal of the first half came in the 45th minute. Malinský escaped our defence on the right side and shot near the back post. The classic goal before the half time.
After half time Sparta started actively. Hložek got to bounced ball, ended but Nguyen took the ball. Five minutes after the break, we almost had a penalty. Referee Julínek ordered it after a foul of Hybš to Sáček, but he changed to free kick after consulting with VAR. Hancko kicked the ball to the wall, the ball bounced back, Hancko fired again and this time he hit the pos!
Immediately after that the home team went to counterattack. After the contact of Hanousek and Malinský the referee went to the video again and this time ordered the penalty for Liberec. Roman Potočný scored and the home team went to the double lead.
But Sparta quickly responded! Martin Hašek took the ball from the middle pitch and sent to Hložek. He fired from a distance and the ball went to the net beautifully!
Sparta in ten moments gained a new power and pushed to the opponent. There was a chance - Hložek passed to Tetteh, who was face to face to Nguyen, but his attempt went off. Then Hložek found the space for the shot, but aimed over the goal.
Sparta continued with the pressure but failed to score the equalizer and twelve minutes before the end the home scored again. Musa passed to Malinský which was in front of an empty goal and scored again.
At the very end of the match, Hašek hit the post after Hanousek’s pass. Sparta lost 1-3 to Liberec.
FC Slovan Liberec - AC Sparta Praha 3-1 (1-0)
Goals: 45. Malinský, 58. Potočný (pen), 78. Malinský - 63. Hložek. YC: Kačaraba, Mikula, Malinský, Alibekov - Radaković, Hancko, Krejčí, Hašek. Referees: Julínek - Paták, Podaný. Attendance: 8 765.
Liberec: Nguyen – Fukala, Mikula, Kačaraba, Hybš – Malinský (85.Dordić), Breite, Pešek (78. Koscelník), Alibekov, Potočný – Kuchta (74. Musa).
Sparta: Nita – Sáček, Radaković, Hancko, Hanousek – Hašek, Krejčí, Trávník (77. Karlsson), Plavšić (58. Kozák) – Tetteh.
