Europa League half time report – Sparta Prague versus Palermo
Palermo travelled to the Czech Republic to participate in their Europa League group stage match opener. The team was going into the match on the back of their worst ever start in the Serie A.
The team had drawn one game and lost the other one so far. However the team’s hopes were high going into the game. Their manager had earlier commented that despite the club’s tardy performance in the Italian League, playing in the international competition
is a story on another plane.
The team felt that a win in the Europa League game could give them the rightful boost that they needed.
The Palermo manager was reported saying the following before the match: "We have the right players to do well,''
“It will be crucial to take small steps, focusing on each game in order to go through to the next round.”
"I am certain we will go far in this competition.''
The team was high on optimism going into the game; however they were making their biggest possible mistake by under estimating their opponents going into the match. Sparta Prague were one of the best teams to ever come out of the Czech Republic and were
not going to make this game easy for their Italian visitors by any means.
The match kicked off with the home team Sparta Prague dominating most of the possession. The team was taking the game to their Italian opponents on the night and made their intentions clear from the very first minute.
It wasn't long before the home team got the much deserved opening goal. Jiri Kladrubsky whipped in a beautiful cross from the right wing, which Bony Wilfred met with his head and buried in the back of the net giving the home team the early lead.
The match carried out in similar fashion for the most part. However in the thirty eighth minute Massimo Maccarone hit a tremendous left footed striker from six yards out to draw the game at one goal a piece against the run of play.
This led to a battle in the midfield with passing and game plays being made; however it soon became obvious that both the clubs needed much more talent in order to make progressive advances from the mid.
The first half soon ended, with the home team dominating possession with almost sixty percent and making most of the moves. Nevertheless the game is still open at a draw and a moment of brilliance is all that is required to turn the tables around.
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