Ararat-Armenia vs Sparta Prague - prediction, team news, lineups

Ararat-Armenia's archetypal bow connected the continental main signifier sees them play big to Sparta Prague astatine the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium, arsenic some sides get their Europa League campaigns underway connected Wednesday evening.

This marks the 3rd competitory lucifer betwixt some teams, aft the Czech Republic outfit emerged 6-2 aggregate winners crossed some legs of the pair's Conference League qualifying brushwood past season.

Match preview

After lifting the Armenian Premier League rubric for the 3rd clip past term, Ararat yet realised their ambition of a continental main-stage berth, though the travel was not without its stock of hiccups.

Tulipa's men fell into Europa League qualifying aft being eliminated by NK Celje successful the Champions League 3rd qualifying circular but prevailed against Universitatea Craiova successful the consequent playoff, becoming the archetypal Armenian broadside to vie successful that competition's main stage.

Ararat participate this caller section with sizeable momentum, having won back-to-back games without conceding successful the Armenian apical flight, including a 3-0 thrashing of Syunik astatine the Football Academy Stadium astatine the weekend, leaving them 3rd successful the standings and 5 points adrift of leaders Noah.

The backdrop is alternatively antithetic for the Yerevan-based nine connected the European front, with their 1,428-capacity crushed falling good beneath UEFA's minimum requirements, though the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium has served arsenic an adopted fortress. 

Tulipa's men person claimed triumph successful some of their 2 continental appearances astatine the venue this season, meaning they person won each of the past 4 European games they person hosted, scoring aggregate goals successful 3 of those fixtures portion conceding conscionable erstwhile crossed that stretch, and volition anticipation specified signifier serves them good connected Wednesday.

Like the hosts, Sparta besides fell successful Champions League qualifying — eliminated by Lyon astatine the third-round hurdle — but earned nonstop transition into the Europa League's main stage, having bypassed immoderate further playoff by virtuousness of the introduction way they had followed successful that competition.

That inactive represents a measurement up connected the erstwhile campaign, erstwhile the Reds reached the Conference League circular of 16 earlier succumbing to AZ Alkmaar 6-1 connected aggregate crossed some legs.

Sparta's signifier connected the roadworthy has been a root of interest crossed each competitions this season, with the Prague nine losing 4 of six distant fixtures, portion the lone victories successful that agelong arrived against top-flight newcomers Artis Brno and second-tier Zizkov successful the home cup.

The Reds backed that cupful showing with a convincing 2-0 location occurrence implicit Jablonec astatine the weekend, though the effect leaves Brian Priske's broadside ninth successful the Czech top-flight standings, with the show astatine slightest providing a assurance boost heading into Wednesday's European assignment.
 

Ararat-Armenia Europa League form:

Ararat-Armenia signifier (all competitions):

Sparta Prague signifier (all competitions):

Team News

Ararat look to person nary large caller fittingness concerns, portion Joao Bravim could instrumentality betwixt the posts, meaning Arman Nersesyan could springiness mode aft starting astatine the weekend.

Franca Carlos opened the scoring past clip out, meaning helium has recovered the nett successful back-to-back  appearances and should clasp a berth successful midfield, portion Arayik Eloyan's brace successful that aforesaid triumph implicit Syunik strengthens the lawsuit for a 2nd consecutive commencement successful the fig 9 role.

Meanwhile, Sparta are coping with a important database of absentees, with Adam Sevínsky ruled retired owed to suspension aft receiving a reddish paper successful the continental decision astatine Lyon.

On the wounded front, Magnus Andersen remains sidelined aft undergoing genu surgery, portion Sivert Mannsverk is besides unavailable; Emmanuel Uchenna and Jakub Martinec are doubts for the visitors.

Josimar Alcocer has struck 4 times crossed his past six appearances for Sparta, including the opener successful Saturday's location occurrence against Jablonec, and volition beryllium the information antheral to ticker successful the visitors' attack.
 

Ararat-Armenia imaginable starting lineup:

Bravim; Julio, Valdez, Malis, Grigoryan; Oliveira, Muradyan; Serobyan, Franca, Banjaqui; Eloyan

Sparta Prague imaginable starting lineup:

Surovcik; Kaderabek, Guddal, Mbe Soh, Zeleny; Macek, Eneme; Mercado, Karabec, Alcocer; Vojta

We say: Ararat-Armenia 1-2 Sparta Prague

Although some sides participate this contention with contrasting momentum arsenic acold arsenic respective location and distant signifier are concerned, Sparta stay favourites, fixed a cleanable grounds against Ararat and the Reds' sizeable continental pedigree.

As such, we expect the visitors to borderline this one, though the hosts are improbable to surrender without a fight.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.