Václav Kotal had to deal with absence of 8 players before the match. In addition – Ondřej Čelůstka had muscle problems, so he can not feature in the game. So there were Karabec and Polidar for the first time in the starting line up in Europa League!
The first minutes of the match offered no chances. The home team was more active and pushed forward, but the Sparta‘s defense resisted.
It was in the 23rd minute when the first chance Sparta’s chance came! Inside of the box, Karlsson got the ball and kicked him and kicked it to the crossbar.
Sparta has taken the initiative. After a beautiful center from Vindheim, Juliš fired, goalkeeper Bain pulled his attempt over the crossbar!
But after the next corner we could already celebrate! Hancko hit the bar from the center, but the ball bounced off to Juliš, who kicked him into the net without hesitation!
The home side worked hard to get through the middle and as a result, had a good chance after 38 minutes into the match. Elyounoussi ran behind the Sparta centre backs and tried to lob the ball over Nita. Fortunately, he kicked over the goal too.
And the second goal came from the break after that chance! Karlsson escaped the defense of Celtic, centered on Karabec, who pushed the ball to Juliš. The attacker prepared the ball and then passed the ball around Bain beautifully.
Immediately after the break, goalkeeper Bain made a mistake in the building of the game, but Juliš did not punish it and shot too high.
In the 59th minute, Frimpong got a lot of space, so he tried to fire. But he missed the goal.
Sparta could have score again after a break. Sáček went through the middle of the field and then fired, the ball hit the goal construction again after the Bain’s save.
And the home team's goal came after an unused chance. Rogić showed his technical quality, in the box and then he shot, Nita set off. But there was Griffits, who was waiting for the ball and scored!
But Sparta did not panic and returned to a two-goal lead! Karlsson ran the ball through the whole pitch and passed to Juliš. He easily completed his hattrick!
Celtic Glasgow – AC Sparta Praha 1:4 (0:2)
Góly: 26. Juliš, 45. Juliš, 76. Juliš, 90. Laco Krejčí ŽK: Christie - Pavelka, Sáček Rozhodčí: Kovács – Marinescu, Artene (všichni Rum.)
Celtic: Bain – Frimpong, Duffy, Bitton, Laxalt (80. Ntcham) – Brown (59. Elhamed), McGregor – Christie, Rogić, Elyounoussi (59. Griffits) – Edouard (80. Ajeti).
Sparta: Nita – Vindheim, Pavelka, Plechatý, Hancko (73. Lischka) – Sáček (88. Dočkal), LK37 – Polidar (79. Laco Krejčí), Karabec (73. Trávník), Karlsson (88. Plavšić) – Juliš.
