YEREVAN, September 15 – Sparta Prague arrives in Yerevan in a less than ideal state for their opening Europa League match against Ararat-Armenia. The Czech club has been grappling with significant personnel losses and unstable results, while rumors have circulated regarding the potential departure of head coach Brian Priske.
Priske’s Future Under Scrutiny Amidst Borussia Mönchengladbach Links
One of the main topics at the pre-match press conference was the future of the Danish specialist. Following the dismissal of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s head coach, Priske was mentioned among the possible candidates for the Bundesliga club.
Sparta’s head coach himself declined to comment on information about potential contacts with the German club, emphasizing that he has a long-term contract and is focused on his work in Prague. German media later reported that Borussia was not negotiating with Priske.
Inconsistent Domestic Form and Champions League Exit
Sparta has also had a less than successful start to the new Czech championship. After eight rounds, the team has accumulated only 12 points, recording four wins and four losses. For a club that traditionally competes for the championship, such a start is difficult to consider satisfactory.
The Prague team also failed to reach the main stage of the Champions League. In the third qualifying round, Sparta faced Lyon. At home, the Czech team defeated the French side, which was playing with significant losses, 2-1. However, they lost the return leg 0-3, resulting in a 2-4 aggregate defeat. After this, Sparta continued its European campaign in the Europa League.
Key Players Sidelined by Injuries and Suspensions
Priske’s team also faces serious personnel problems. Central defender Adam Sevisnky will definitely not play in Yerevan, as he is suspended after being sent off in the match against Lyon. Ki-Jana Hoever also remained in Prague due to a recent injury.
Magnus Kofod Andersen and Emmanuel Uchenna continue to recover from injuries and were not included in Sparta’s Europa League squad. Jakub Martinec and Sivert Mannsverk have also experienced health issues recently.
Despite Setbacks, Sparta’s Squad Retains Strength
Nevertheless, even with these losses, the Czech club’s squad remains quite strong. In the summer, Sparta was reinforced by Norwegian striker Jonathan Braut Brunes, a cousin of Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. In the previous two seasons, Brunes scored 40 goals in all competitions before moving to Prague.
Adam Karabec, who returned to Sparta after one season at Lyon, remains one of the team’s leaders. The Czech footballer played 34 matches for the French club, scoring three goals and providing three assists.
The Prague team also includes players who recently participated in the 2026 World Cup. Specifically, Jaroslav Zelený and Hugo Sochůrek represented the Czech national team in the tournament.
Ararat-Armenia Seeks Advantage in Europa League Debut
For Ararat-Armenia, the upcoming match will be an opportunity to capitalize on their opponent’s difficult period. At the same time, the teams know each other well; a year ago, Sparta eliminated the Armenian club in the Conference League qualifiers, winning 4-1 in Prague and 2-1 in Yerevan.
Ararat-Armenia’s only injured player is right-back Kamo Hovhannisyan, but he is expected to have recovered. This will be the Armenian club’s debut in the Europa League.
The first-round match of the Europa League group stage between Ararat-Armenia and Sparta will take place on September 16 at the Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium in Yerevan. The match kicks off at 20:45 Yerevan time.
