Preview: Aris Limassol vs. Sparta Prague - prediction, team news, lineups

Aris still have something to play for themselves though, as a two-goal win will move them above their Czech opponents and into the Europa Conference League spot, in a devilishly tight group heading into matchday six.

Match preview

Group C is the only section in the Europa League this season where no team yet knows their fate heading into the final set of fixtures.

Despite being in the top two currently, one of Real Betis or Rangers will be eliminated if Sparta win here, but Brian Priske's side also need to be careful they are not caught by the Cypriot minnows.

Even though they begin the matchday in third, Sparta can still win the group and go directly through to the last 16 if they win by three or more goals here, and Betis draw with Rangers in Seville.

Priske will be happy with any placing in the top two, though, taking the club through to the Europa League knockouts for the first time since 2016-17.

It may not be as easy as many are predicting, though, as Sparta have not won any of their last 12 away matches in Europe - losing 10.

The visitors will hope to continue riding the wave of their recent good form to get over that poor record, as they come into the game having won five in a row since losing at Ibrox on matchday four.

Aris are bottom but can still upset the apple cart with a convincing win here, as they still have third place to play for.

With a two-goal win required, the hosts can take confidence and belief from the fact they scored two goals away to Sparta earlier in the group, and the Czechs have conceded two or more in six of their previous seven European away games.

Aleksey Shpilevski's men kept their European hopes alive by holding on for a point in Glasgow on matchday five, as all four of their points in the section have so far come against Rangers.

Their form has been all over the place of late though, and that was compounded by a defeat to AEK Larnaca at the weekend, which dropped them three points off the pace at the top of the Cypriot top flight.

Having beaten APOEL Nicosia, thrashing rivals AEL Limassol 4-0 away from home, and drawing at Rangers, the defeat at the weekend was just as damaging as the recent 4-1 loss at lowly Karmiotissa, a side who had not won a game all season prior.

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Sparta Prague Europa League form:

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Sparta Prague form (all competitions):

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Team News

Eric Boakye is set to be the only injury absentee for Aris, as he has been out since going off against Betis on matchday three.

Attacker Yannick Gomis made his return from an injury of his own at the weekend, though, coming on as an early second-half substitute in the defeat at Larnaca.

Shpilevski will hope to have Shavy Babicka back after missing the last two games, with him likely to be the main threat for the hosts, as the Gabon international has three goals in the group stage already, including one in the reverse fixture.

Sparta will be sweating on the fitness of Lukas Haraslin, who picked up a slight knock at the weekend in their win over Jablonec.

The Slovakian winger has been instrumental in their good form recently, scoring five goals in five starts for club and country since returning from injury last month.

Asger Sorensen has a similar issue currently, but apart from that, Priske has a full squad to choose from, and after going full strength at the weekend, they could remain unchanged.

Martin Vitik was sent off on Saturday but will be available here, so the only position likely to be up for grabs will be at left wing-back, between Matej Rynes and Jaroslav Zeleny.

Aris Limassol possible starting lineup:

Vana Alves; Mayambela, Yago, Moucketo-Moussounda, Urosevic, Caju; Bengtsson, Szoke, Strutski, Babicka; Kokorin

Sparta Prague possible starting lineup:

Vindahl; Vitik, Panak, Krejci; Preciado, Laci, Kairinen, Rynes; Birmancevic, Kuchta, Haraslin

We say: Aris Limassol 0-2 Sparta Prague

The odds are stacked against Aris dropping into the Europa Conference League knockouts in their debut season in Europe, but they are unlikely to be pushovers for Sparta.

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