Sparta smiling despite tough task

AC Sparta Praha know they must beat a Real Madrid CF side already through to the last eight to stand any chance of progressing further in the UEFA Champions League.

Successive defeats
After successive defeats against Panathinaikos FC the Czech Republic side must look to win this game and hope that the Greek team fail to do likewise in their encounter away to FC Porto. The team arrived in Spain in confident mood, despite recent form and the difficult prospect in front of them.

Hrebik hoping
Sparta coach Jaroslav Hrebik will be well aware that Tuesday night's hosts Madrid will be under no pressure to win the game after already securing qualification giving his side every chance to seize the initiative in the Santiago Bernabéu. For Madrid, with qualification already achieved they have a new target in their sights - the chance to claim a fifth successive victory in the competition for the first time.

Sparta must win
The Madrid club stand alone with maximum wins from their four games in the second group stage earning them a quarter-final berth for the sixth time in the last seven seasons. Sparta on the other hand know that time is fast running out.

Players rested
It will help the Czech visitors to know that Vicente del Bosque will rest many of his regular players with Zinedine Zidane, Raúl González, Claude Makelele, Roberto Carlos and Fernando Hierro all likely to be kept fresh for this weekend's crucial league confrontation with FC Barcelona at Camp Nou.

Changes promised
"We will make many changes in the team list for the Sparta game," confirmed Del Bosque. "We also have some players charged with yellow cards, and we must think ahead of the Barcelona match, that is very important. Furthermore, all
the players deserve to play, and with the quarter-final qualification already achieved, we can play a bit more calmly, although we look for another victory."

Promising Portillo
Opportunity could knock for youngsters Oscar Miñambres and Raúl Bravo in defence and in attack there could be a place for the exciting 19-year-old Javier Portillo who travelled to Porto but did not figure on the team sheet.
 
Celta beaten
On their return to Spanish league action after Matchday Ten, Real claimed all three points when they took on RC Celta de Vigo, Raúl heading the only goal of the game to put an end to a run of eight league games without an away win.

Strong favourites
Their next appointment was the final of the Copa del Rey which had been brought forward to 6 March to coincide with the club's 100th birthday. The Spanish FA agreed to stage the final at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium and Madrid were strong favourites to win the cup for the 18th time in front of King Juan Carlos.

Deportivo spoil party
Yet the glittering occasion ended on a flat note for Madrid as RC Deportivo La Coruña, who were without a win at the stadium since 1951, produced a solid performance to emerge as 2-1 victors, Raúl's second-half goal proving not enough for the Madrid club.

'Too anxious'
"The whole atmosphere surrounding the centenary celebrations was an extra burden for my players to carry," admitted a disappointed Del Bosque. "It's a psychological blow and we now have to pick ourselves up and get on with the task of winning the other two competitions we are in."

Figo problem
Luis Figo returned after missing three games with a badly sprained ankle but could not last the 90 minutes. He was ruled out of last weekend's league game and is unlikely to be risked on Tuesday.

Important objectives
Madrid president Florentino Pérez called a special meeting afterwards to emphasise to the players that there were still two important objectives to play for and the response was positive as a 3-0 home win over Villarreal CF was clinched on Saturday with Raúl, Hierro and Steve McManaman all on the scoresheet. The game saw them complete a century of goals in all competitions
for the season and they have scored the most goals in the current Champions League with 22 from 74 efforts on target.

Hundred up for Sionko
On the same day Sparta regained top spot in the Czech championship with a hard-fought 1-0 win over SK Sigma Olomouc. The only goal of the game was an 80th-minute penalty converted by Libor Sionko, who was making his 100th appearance in the Czech first division, after Vladimír Malar had been brought down.

Unlucky in Madrid
Before that Hrebik's side had been held to a goalless draw by FC Príbram. Sparta considered themselves unlucky to lose to Madrid in the first game of Group C, twice coming from behind in the game but unable to do the trick a third time as they went down 3-2 and they have been eagerly awaiting this chance to make amends.