Chelsea v Sparta Prague Europa League Prediction 14th February 2013

Chelsea v Sparta Prague Betting Preview
The Stamford Bridge crew will be making their debut in the Europa League. Of all the sides competing in the round of 32, Chelsea (jointly with Levante) have played the fewest amount of UEFA Cup/League matches. So it is some new territory for them under the tournament’s new format. They are here because they blew their lines as reigning Champions League holders and dropped down. Sparta Prague meanwhile battled their way through the Europa League to set up a clash with one of Europe’s elite.

Chelsea v Sparta Prague Betting Odds at online bookmaker Ladbrokes
Chelsea 4/6, Draw 5/2, Sparta Prague 9/2

Chelsea v Sparta Prague Recommended Bet:
The Blues have encountered the Czech side before, when they were paired up in the 2003/04 Champions League. Chelsea won 1-0 out in Prague on that occasion and drew 0-0 back at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea netted a group stage high of 16 goals in the Champions League and still they couldn’t qualify, edged out by the power of Juventus and some good work by Shakhtar Donetsk. So if they bring that goal scoring prowess to the Europa League, they could go far. Juan Mata has contributed to six goals in his last five European matches for Chelsea, while Frank Lampard has scored six goals in his last seven away matches (in all competitions). However, Chelsea have had recent issues on the road, not winning any of their last four away from Stamford Bridge in all competitions.

With their wobbles and stutters, mostly at the back, it has to be said, they could face a tricky night in the Czech Republic. Of four previous two-legged ties in the UEFA Cup, Chelsea have only progressed once. The last time they were in the UEFA Cup, the were knocked out by Viking FC after losing 4-2 out in Stavanger. Chelsea keeper Petr Cech is a former Sparta player incidentally, although he wasn’t at Stamford Bridge when the sides previously met. Chelsea have never lost a home match in the UEFA Cup, winning three and drawing one. They have only played two matches in the Czech Republic, taking one win and a draw without conceding a goal. They really should have enough in the tank to get this job done.

Sparta Prague will be coming into the match from the cold. Literally. They haven’t played a competitive match since December 8th, as the Czech league has been on a winter break. What a match to come back into. Sparta Prague finished second behind French side Lyon in the group stage to set up this clash with the reigning European champions. However, they haven’t had much joy against English sides before. They have managed to score just one goal in their last eight games against English opposition. On home soil, they have scored in any of their last five when hosting a side from England. They have lost seven of their last 10 clashes with English sides, winning none. They are however, unbeaten in their last five European matches and on home soil they have not lost in their last 11 European fixtures. They lost out against Liverpool the last time they were at this stage in the 2010/11 season.

Well worth looking at Frank Lampard or Juan Mata as First Goalscorer, both are trading at 5/1 with online bookmaker Ladbrokes
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