Manchester City vs Sparta Prague - Champions League: TV channel, prediction, team news and lineups

Manchester City are currently unbeaten in 32 home Champions League games, winning 22 of the last 25, a sequence that dates back over six-years, setting a new English-club record, and it would require an upset of seismic proportions for that streak to come to an end here.

Manchester City vs Sparta Prague Preview

Will Manchester City make it successive comfortable Champions League victories? Earlier this month, the Sky Blues swatted aside Slovan Bratislava 4-0, with İlkay Gündoğan, Phil Foden, Erling Braut Håland and James McAtee all scoring at Národný futbalový štadión, in one of the most one-sided matches you're ever likely to see.

This though was an important victory for Pep Guardiola's team, considering they'd been held to a goalless stalemate by Inter back on matchday one. The Citizens still have away games against Sporting CP, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain to come in the league phase, but most consider them strong favourites to finish top of this gigantic league table.

Meantime, in the Premier League, the Citizens had to fight back from a goal down to beat Wolves on Sunday, with John Stones' 95th minute header controversially snatching victory following VAR review. Man City remain unbeaten across all competitions this season, 12 games and counting, a streak that'll almost certainly continue here.

Well, like their hosts, Sparta Prague also have four points on the board, following an impressive start. During the summer, the Maroons overcame Shamrock Rovers, Steaua București and then Malmö in qualifiers, thereby reaching the Champions League proper for the first time in 19 years.

Thus, it was a massive occasion when the Czech champions hosted RB Salzburg on matchday one and the night could hardly have gone better, prevailing 3-0, with Kaan Kairinen, Victor Olatunji and Qazim Laçi all on target.

A fortnight later, almost more impressively, Lars Friis' side held Stuttgart to a 1-1 draw in Germany, Kairinen heading home the equaliser at Neckarstadion, suggesting Sparta will be competitive in this competition, as they seek to stay in the top 24. Here however, they'll to well not to be blown away at the Etihad, just as they were against Liverpool in March, demolished 11-2 on aggregate.

Manchester City vs Sparta Prague Head-to-Head Record

These two clubs have never previously met.

Manchester City Team News

Pep Guardiola rotated his team in Bratislava three weeks ago and is expected to do the same here too. That night, Stefan Ortega made just his second appearance of the campaign in goal, while there was also a rare start for Matheus Nunes in midfield. Kevin De Bruyne, along-with Rodri and Oscar Bobb , remain sidelined, but Nathan Aké was back on the bench at Molineux, having not featured since August due to a hamstring injury. Manuel Akanji, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden are amongst those who could be rotated into the team.

Manchester City predicted lineup vs Sparta Prague: (4-1-4-1): Ortega; Lewis, Akanji, Rúben Dias, Gvardiol; Kovačić, Silva, Foden, Savinho, Grealish; Håland.

Manchester City Player to Watch vs Sparta Prague

Erling Braut Håland is enduring something of a goal draught just now, failing to score in three successive Premier League matches for the first time since January, albeit he has become Norway's all-time record goal-scorer during this period. In Champions League terms, Håland has netted 42 times in 41 outings, averaging a goal every 77 minutes, on target against 15 different opponents in this tournament, high-likely to add Sparta Prague to this ever-growing list of victims.

Sparta Prague Team News

Nine players have started both of Sparta Prague's two league phase games so far, before Lars Friis tinkered with his team a bit for Saturday's 2-1 win over Slovan Liberec, presumably with this game in mind. Having found the net during the trouncing of RB Salzburg, Victor Olatunji could return to lead the attack, chosen over Albion Rrahmani. Martin Vitík meanwhile will return to defence, having sat out the weekend victory following a red card in the Prague derby earlier this month, while Qazim Laçi will also be back in midfield.

Sparta Prague predicted lineup vs Manchester City: (3-4-3): Vindahl; Zelený, Vitík, Panák; Preciado, Kairinen, Laçi, Ryneš; Birmančević, Haraslín, Olatunji.

Sparta Prague Players to Watch vs Manchester City

Veljko Birmančević was the Maroons' top-scorer during Champions League qualifying, on target three times, all away from home, netting once in Dublin and twice in Bucharest, so he, alongside fellow inside-forward Lukáš Haraslín are the most-likely men to cause Man City problems, if anyone can!

Manchester City vs Sparta Prague Prediction

Manchester City have won both previous encounters with Czech opposition, smashing Viktoria Plzeň 3-0 and 4-2 back in 2013, with a similar scoreline expected here. Meantime, Sparta Prague have lost six of their last seven outings in England, most-recently hammered 6-1 at Anfield in March, their sole victory in 11 attempts on English soli coming at Watford 41 years ago. Thus, it's realistically a case of how many are the Sky Blues going to score? A fair few one would suggest: Manchester City 4-0 Sparta Prague.

Manchester City vs Sparta Prague FAQs - Champions League

How to watch Manchester City vs Sparta Prague Champions League game on TV channel?

Manchester City vs Sparta Prague Champions League game will be available on the following TV channels;

• UK: TNT Sports 2 & Ultimate

• USA: CBS Golazo Network, Paramount+ & ViX.

• Canada: DAZN Canada

How to watch Manchester City vs Sparta Prague Champions League game on live streaming?

Manchester City vs Sparta Prague Champions League game will be available on the following streaming services;

• UK: Discovery+

• USA: CBS Golazo Network, Paramount+ & ViX.

• Canada: DAZN Canada

What is the date and kick-off time for Manchester City vs Sparta Prague in the Champions League?

Manchester City vs Sparta Prague takes place on Wednesday 23 October 2024, with kick off at 20:00 (BST), 15:00 (ET) & 12:00 (PDT).

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