SPA vs SOU
Match Centre
SPA vs SOU As It Happened
Key moments so far
- Costa's goal on 11 minutes proves the difference at Generali Arena.
- Fraser Forster has denied both Karavaev and Dočkal to keep things at 1-0.
- Pierre-Emile Højbjerg forced off with an injury.
- Sparta progress into the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League.
Ward-Prowse: Fans deserved more
Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse gave his verdict after a disappointing night against Sparta Praha in Group K.
21.53Puel on Sparta Praha defeat
Watch as Saints boss Claude Puel gives his thoughts after the 1-0 defeat to Sparta Praha in the UEFA Europa League.
21.52FULL TIME: Sparta Praha 1-0 Saints
Costa's goal is the difference despite a spirited second-half effort from Saints in search of an elusive equaliser.
Sparta Praha substitution: Daniel Köstl replaces Lukas Julis
Yoshida header saved
James Ward-Prowse sends in another free-kick after Charlie Austin was fouled, Maya Yoshida meets it but there is a flag up for offside.
Sparta Praha substitution: Vaclav Dudl replaces Daniel Holzer
Long with an acrobatic effort
Nathan Redmond stands up a cross from the left towards Shane Long who tries to meet it with an acrobatic effort, but he can't make clean contact.
Sparta Praha substitution: Filip Havelka replaces David Lafata
Into the final five minutes!
They've been pressing, can Saints find a late leveller against Sparta Praha in Group K?
Well-worked move!
Oriol Romeu leads a neat passing move around the area, Shane Long is released inside the box but his low cross is turned behind.
Long effort wide
Shane Long drives forward before hitting a right-footed effort towards goal, but it drifts harmlessly wide.
Southampton substitution: Charlie Austin replaces Jordy Clasie
Final change from Claude Puel and it's leading goalscorer Charlie Austin on for Jordy Clasie. Can he find the equaliser?
Ward-Prowse free-kick cleared
James Ward-Prowse delivers a free-kick that Virgil van Dijk is closest to, but it's cleared behind and the resulting corner comes to nothing.
Dočkal goes close
Fraser Forster makes another good save to deny Borek Dočkal and keep the score at 1-0!
Another Sparta chance
Lukáš Mareček is involved again for the hosts as he pushes the ball out of his feet before curling an effort just wide of Fraser Forster's goal from outside the box.
Juliš' cross hits the bar
Lukáš Juliš gets down the right and delivers a deep cross that strikes the crossbar and lands safely over Forster's goal.
Forster makes a smart save
Vyacheslav Karavaev unleashes a ferocious low shot, but Fraser Forster is equal to it to keep the deficit at one.
Southampton substitution: Sofiane Boufal replaces Jay Rodriguez
Second change in quick succession from Claude Puel as Sofiane Boufal joins the action.
Southampton substitution: Oriol Romeu replaces Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg pulls up with an injury and is replaced by Oriol Romeu.
Mareček threatening
Lukáš Mareček bursts forward from midfield before feeding Daniel Holzer on the left, but his delivery is tame and Forster catches it.
Yoshida sends an audacious effort wide
The ball falls to Maya Yoshida around 30 yards from goal and he sees his low right-footed drive fly well wide of Tomáš Koubek's goal.
Back under way at Generali Arena
Sparta Praha captain David Lafata kicks proceedings off for the second-half. Come on, Saints! 😇
HALF TIME: Sparta Praha 1-0 Saints
Southampton go into the break trailing to a Costa strike, but they have responded well to going behind and it's still all to play for.
McQueen raids forward
Sam McQueen has been heavily involved for Saints so far, creating one chance and seeing his effort saved by Tomáš Koubek.
Yellow Card for Mario Holek (Sparta Praha)
Mario Holek goes into the book for a late challenge on James Ward-Prowse in midfield.
👏
The travelling Saints fans have been in fine voice so far as we approach the half hour mark of the game.
Puel watches on
Claude Puel has seen a good response from his side since going 1-0 down to the hosts, with efforts from Sam McQueen, Shane Long and Jay Rodriguez going close.
McQueen in the thick of things
Sam McQueen cuts the ball back to Jay Rodriguez, who sees his effort blocked before McQueen drags a snapshot with his weaker side just wide.
Ward-Prowse creates an opportunity
James Ward-Prowse's dangerous delivery is headed behind for a corner, before his corner is headed clear by Lukáš Mareček.
Rodriguez tries to work a chance
Jay Rodriguez looks to get the ball out of his feet under pressure from Michal Kadlec early on for a shot on goal.
McQueen effort saved
Sam McQueen gets forward down the left before unleashing a low drive that Tomáš Koubek is equal to.
Costa opens the scoring
Costa meets a well-worked free-kick from Borek Dočkal to sweep the ball past Fraser Forster and give the hosts the lead,
GOAL
Costa Nhamoinesu (10’) | 1 – 0
Almost an early opening
Shane Long shows great perseverance to win the ball on the left and Jordy Clasie then tees up Jay Rodriguez, who can't quite get it out his feet for a shot.
We're under way!
Nathan Redmond gets us going for the first-half. Come on, Saints! 😇
The teams are out!
Both sides are now lining up ahead of tonight's clash, with kick-off just moments away. Stay with us for live updates. 😇
17.57Warm-up complete! 💪
We're just under ten minutes away from kick-off here at the Generali Arena, as Saints face Sparta Praha in Group K of the UEFA Europa League.
17.48Saints arrive at Generali Arena
Southampton's squad take in their surroundings after arriving at the Generali Arena ahead of tonight's clash against Sparta Praha.
17.16Sparta Praha team confirmed
Starting XI: Koubek (GK), Costa, M.Kadlec, Mazuch, Karavaev, Holzer, Holek, Maraček, Juliš, Dočkal, Lafata.
Substitutes: Miller, Havelka, Dudl, Köstl, Kadlec, Novotny, Majka
17.10The teams are in!
Starting XI: Forster, Martina, Yoshida, van Dijk (c), McQueen, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Clasie, Højbjerg, Rodriguez, Long.
Take a look inside Saints' dressing room 👀
We're just minutes away from revealing tonight's team to face Sparta Praha in the UEFA Europa League. Take a look inside Saints' dressing room at Generali Arena.
16.5816.43it will be a hard test for us but we are prepared for that. we have the players to go out and win.
shane longstriker
Checking out the city of Prague
Watch as the Saints squad headed out for a team walk earlier, to have a look around the city of Prague as they prepared for tonight's game against Sparta Praha.
16.41Saints fan out in force!
Watch as Southampton fans enjoy the city of Prague ahead of the UEFA Europa League clash against Sparta Praha tonight at Generali Arena.
16.25The scene is set!
The Generali Arena under the lights ahead of tonight's Group K fixture in the UEFA Europa League.
16.14Saints fans in Prague! 🇨🇿
Thousands of Saints supporters have been enjoying the city of Prague ahead of tonight's game against Sparta Praha, including two legends! 😇
16.0615.27THERE WON'T BE ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN HOW WE'LL PLAY, COMPARED TO HOW WE'VE BEEN PLAYING IN THE EUROPA LEAGUE SO FAR.
DAVID HOLOUBEKSPARTA PRAHA MANAGER
Puel previews Sparta Praha
Get thoughts of Saints boss Claude Puel ahead of an important Group K clash with Sparta Praha in the UEFA Europa League.
15.2115.19A GOOD RESULT FOR ME IS JUST THREE POINTS, BECAUSE ONE POINT IS NOT SUFFICIENT AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET THE WIN.
CLAUDE PUELMANAGER
Matchday!
Southampton are heading to the Generali Stadium for a vital Group K clash against Sparta Praha in the UEFA Europa League.
SPA vs SOU Line Ups
Sparta Prague
| 33 |
Tomas Koubek (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 3 |
Michal Kadlec
|
| 4 |
Vyacheslav Karavayev
|
| 2 |
Ondrej Mazuch
|
| 26 |
Costa Nhamoinesu
|
| 25 |
Mario Holek
|
| 11 |
Lukás Marecek
|
| 30 |
Lukas Julis
Daniel Köstl (93′)
|
| 22 |
Daniel Holzer
Vaclav Dudl (91′)
|
| 21 |
David Lafata (C)
Filip Havelka (88′)
|
| 9 |
Borek Dockal
|
Substitutes
| 43 |
Vaclav Dudl |
|---|---|
| 48 |
Matej Majka |
| 46 |
Milan Kadlec |
| 45 |
Filip Havelka |
| 50 |
Ondrej Novotny |
| 47 |
Daniel Köstl |
| 27 |
Miroslav Miller |
Southampton
| 1 |
Fraser Forster (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 15 |
Cuco Martina
|
| 3 |
Maya Yoshida
|
| 17 |
Virgil van Dijk (C)
|
| 38 |
Sam McQueen
|
| 4 |
Jordy Clasie
Charlie Austin (72′)
|
| 16 |
James Ward-Prowse
|
| 23 |
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
Oriol Romeu (55′)
|
| 9 |
Jay Rodriguez
Sofiane Boufal (55′)
|
| 22 |
Nathan Redmond
|
| 7 |
Shane Long
|
Substitutes
| 21 |
Ryan Bertrand |
|---|---|
| 14 |
Oriol Romeu |
| 10 |
Charlie Austin |
| 24 |
Jack Stephens |
| 19 |
Sofiane Boufal |
| 8 |
Steven Davis |
| 41 |
Harry Lewis |
SPA vs SOU Match Stats
Head to Head Stats
-
Possession (%)3070
-
Shots612
-
Shots on target43
-
Corners05
-
Passes Complete144524
