Sparta head coach Václav Kotal returned Srdjan Plavšić and Matěj Polidar to the line-up. Pavelka, Čelůstka and Hancko played in our defence, as well as on Slovácko pitch.
Matěj Polidar had a huge chance in the 2nd minute, but goalkeeper Boháč stopped his effort for the first league goal in a red jersey.
In the 11th minute, Plavšić got to the goal line after cooperation with Dočkal and found Juliš. He sent the ball to the empty goal.
Three minutes later, Surzyn sent the ball to our goal after Tomáš Čelůstka's cross, but the referee saw the offside on the video during the action. So still 1-0 for us.
After 20 minutes, Plavšić tried to find his teammates in the box. The action was stopped by one of the guests' defenders. One minute later, Laco Krejčí crossed, found Plavšić and he missed to left post.
We were waiting for the next chance until the 39th minute. Ewerton fired from a distance, his shot missed the right post of Sparta goal.
Toml finished three minutes before the break. His shot ended out of our goal. In the added time, Dočkal crossed perfectly to the box on LK37. His header missed the target.
In the 49th minute, Solil fired out of the penalty area. His attempt went over Sparta's goal. Ten minutes later Plavšić had a great chance, Juliš left the ball for him in the box and Skri hit the left post!
After an hour of play, Pardubice had a great chance. At first, Tomáš Čelůstka went to Nita, which stopped him, immediately after that, Huf overshot. In the third one, Nita caught the ball after Ewerton’s shot in the box.
Four minutes later, Toml failed in another chance. The ending of the former Sparta player went above our goal.
Twenty minutes before the end, Spartans went twice alone. At first Vindheim, which captured the ball. Unfortunately, he did not finish because of one of the defenders returned in time. A few seconds later, Juliš run to the opponent's goal similar way. But Boháč got to the ball faster.
Ten minutes before the end, Dočkal played a corner kick, Hancko extended the ball to Ondřej Čelůstka and the ball ended in Pardubice goal for the second time after his header.
In the 85th minute, the referee first showed LK37 a yellow card, but after the consultation with VAR, he sent him off.
No more happened, Sparta won 2-0 and reduced the loss to the first place to two points.
AC Sparta Praha - FK Pardubice 2-0 (1-0)
Goals: 11. Juliš, 80. Čelůstka. YC: Pavelka - Cadu, Tischler, Langedijk. RC: 85. LK37. Referees: Denev - Paták, Batík.
Sparta: Nita - Pavelka, Čelůstka, Hancko – Polidar (65. Vindheim), Sáček, LK37, Dočkal (84. Trávník), Laco Krejčí (64. Hanousek) – Juliš (84. Minčev), Plavšić (84. Karlsson).
Pardubice: Boháč - Surzyn, Šejvl, Toml, Čelůstka – Cadu (64. Langedijk), Solil (89. Solil), Jeřábek (79. Petráň), Tischler, Ewerton (79. Pfeifer) – Huf (89. Sláma).
