Match Preview: Sparta Prague vs Chelsea

So with Chelsea out of the Champions League this year, we have the Europa League to look forward to. A question I want to ask straight away is: Should Chelsea take this competition seriously or not? My answer would be yes. At the end of the day, it is a trophy. If at the end of the season we could finish with a cup and a top 3 position, that would be deemed as a success, after what has already been a season to forget.

Date: Thursday – 14th February, 2013 – 6PM (GMT)
Venue: Generali Arena, Prague, Czech Republic

So let’s take a look at Sparta Prague, as many of you may not know a lot about them. They have one of the greatest histories in the Czech League, and this is as big as it gets for them tonight. After a second place finish in the league last season, they currently lie third in their league now, the same as Chelsea. The league is nowhere near the level of the EPL, but as we have seen in the past, anything can happen on any given day.

They have a few ex-Premier League players including Jiri Jarosik, but he looks likely to miss out on this one. Others include Roman Bednar and Marek Matejovsky. Most of you will recognize the names from over the last few years, with Bednar playing for West Brom just last year.

Looking at the Chelsea players available, a strong side could be selected for tonight’s game, with only David Luiz suspended and Demba Ba cup-tied, having played for Newcastle in the group stages. The two Nigerians are back after their historic win in the AFCON, but may not start. You only have to look at Celtic’s Efe Ambrose in the Champions League against Italian giants Juventus to see why it may not be the best idea to plunge them straight back in.

John Terry looks like he may start tonight after coming back from a knee injury, and Gary Cahill’s injury against Wigan seems to have gone away. Chelsea have really struggled with squad depth, and many were surprised at their lack of activity in the January transfer window. You just have to look at the squad now, with the Nigerians back and no one out injured, to see that it looks so much more promising.

I expect a strange game tonight, but one in which Chelsea come out on top. Whatever you think of the competition, it really could be used to get the confidence back into some of the players. They have looked lacklustre in recent weeks, but a win tonight and a win against Bradford in the FA Cup can prepare Chelsea for the upcoming Manchester City tie in just over a week’s time.