How Sparta Prague compare to Rangers and the midfield schemers that must be watched

Following defeat to Lyon at Ibrox last time out, Steven Gerrard’s team are in need of a result to ensure some points on the board ahead of Bronby's visit to Glasgow.

Sparta finished second in the Czech Fortuna Liga last season, 12 points behind Slavia Prague. They’re are not as strong an outfit as Slavia, who ended last season’s Europa League run for Rangers, but there are similarities between the two side’s styles of play.

Further, it was only last season that Sparta beat Celtic 4-1 home and away in their Europa League group. They were unable to better Lille and AC Milan however and exited at the first round.

The Rangers Review brings you an in-depth preview of Thursday’s opponents, analysing their season so far and style of play.

The season so far

Of nine matches in the Czech league, Sparta have drawn twice, lost once and won the remaining six matches.

They’ve averaged an xG over those matches of 1.87 to an xG against of 0.94 and recorded 2.67 goals per game to their opponents' 1.

The Czech side reached the third qualifying round of the Champions League in July having got past Rapid Vienna over two legs. They were then well-beaten 5-1 on aggregate by Monaco.

In matchday one of the Europa League, they drew 0-0 with Bronby in Denmark.

Team comparison

There are similarities between Rangers and Sparta statistically, as well as stylistic differences. Both are dominant in their domestic leagues and it’s interesting to compare how they approach high-level matches in keeping with their overall style.

First, let’s compare outputs from all games this season.

There are a few stylistic differences that jump out straight away. Sparta are a more direct team in possession while Rangers are more patient and measured.

How do we know this? The higher numbers of passes, shorter number of long passes and slightly higher average passes per possession signify that Gerrard’s team are more concerned with controlling possession.

Sparta have a lower PPDA, passes per game number and greater long pass percentage. 

They are more concerned with moving play into the final third quickly and a lower number of crosses signifies their desire to play through or over teams as opposed to around.

The Europa League comparison from last season reveals more differentiation of how either team tries to play during European matches.

Compared to their usual output, Sparta make fewer passes per possession and more long balls. Overall, they are less possession focused.

Rangers also adapt their approach, there are far fewer crosses due to the quality of opposition and subsequently less time on the ball, and a lower PPDA due to their ability to play in a mid-block.

Sparta's style

The Ibrox side are more possession-orientated and have the ability to be patient in their build-up play, the number of long passes Sparta make demonstrates that they often bypass midfield progression, forming a 3-3-4 out of possession and trying to get the ball into the front line as quickly as possible.

Below, in an earlier game this season David Pavelka has dropped from his holding role to create a three-man defence.

Pavel Vrba's team focus on getting the ball forward quickly and overloading the front line. Width often comes from wingers who stay high and wide, but at points either full-back will push up to create a top-heavy shape.

Rangers are less flexible in the positioning of certain players and more structured in European football. Their 4-3-3 mid-block is created to limit the space opponents play in and block the centre of the pitch.

READ MORE: Rangers' long ball vulnerability and the aggression drop that's causing it - analysis

This highly structured approach has been massively successful for Gerrard and co. on the most part, but at times it can also leave his team outnumbered in areas of the pitch if the opponent plays to exploit an overloaded defensive shape.

Further, runs off of the midfield have been a cause of concern for the defence this season and this will again be an area in which specific attention is needed in the Czech Republic.

Against Bronby, Sparta’s two deep midfielders conducted very different roles despite starting in a double pivot.

Filip Soucek has the license to join the front line to create overloads and go where the space is.

Pavelka, a Czech international midfielder, often plays the deep-lying role and is an intelligent playmaker. He has the positional intelligence to drop into the defence when they need his help to build play, invite opposition pressure and create space to play through.

The below attack shows some of Sparta's principles of play.

A back three has been formed as Pavelka drops deep, which invites pressure and creates space. Sparta play into the pressure as Soucek receives.

Soucek's dynamism allows him to win his one-on-one battle.

Numbers then join the attack quickly as play is moved vertically

Patient in the initial phase to drop a midfielder, but quick and aggressive as soon as the first line of pressure is broken

Prague possess several dangerous options in the final third. Adam Hlozek was a Czech international at the age of just 18 and now 19, he is growing into an excellent attacker. Hlozek scored 15 goals last season and is a powerful forward that also possesses excellent positioning and movement.

David Moberg-Karlsson and Lukas Julis are two other dangerous attackers, both of whom performed excellently against Celtic last season.

This is a winnable tie for Rangers, if they're able to counteract their opponent's aggressive approach and deal with midfield overloads they'll remain confident their qualities can hurt Sparta.