Sparta seeking home comforts in Prague

Omens stacked
The Greek side have won six of their last seven games against Czech opposition, a run that started seven years ago when they twice ran out winners against Sparta in the UEFA Champions League group stage. SK Slavia Praha (twice) and FK Mladá Boleslav have also been undone by the Athenian giants and though FC Slovan Liberec were able to scrape a draw in the 2002/03 UEFA Cup, it proved meaningless as they were eliminated by an away loss. Add in to the bargain the presence in the Panathinaikos squad of Gilberto, a member of the Arsenal FC side that ended Sparta's campaign in the third qualifying round last season, and the odds look stacked against the Prague club.

Prague nightmares
The visitors' coach Henk ten Cate also suffered disappointment this time last year as his AFC Ajax were eliminated in the Czech capital by Slavia, and he admits he could even be satisfied with a narrow loss on Wednesday. "We respect Sparta, they are a good team with good players," said the Dutchman. "In order to progress, we need a positive result. That can be a victory, a draw or even a narrow defeat. I believe qualification will be sealed in the second leg in Athens but we will try to score because an away goal can make all the difference."

Sarriegui fit
Ten Cate is expected to field a 4-3-3 formation, with José Sarriegui likely to start at centre-back having recovered from a knee problem. The Spaniard is keen to put on a good show. "We need to qualify and it is imperative that we get a good result [in Prague]," he said. "We are ready, have worked very hard during pre-season and are in with a very good chance of qualifying for the group stage."

Kozáčik run
Panathinaikos are relatively untried this term but the hosts approach the game in fine fettle as a largely second-string XI kept up their 100 per cent record in the incipient 1. Liga season, goals from Jiří Kladurbský and Martin Zeman earning a 2-0 victory at FK Kladno on Sunday. Despite the likes of Patrik Berger, Petr Voříšek and Miroslav Slepička all being rested it brought a fourth successive clean sheet for goalkeeper Matúš Kozáčik, deputising for the injured Jaromír Blažek. Sparta coach Vítězslav Lavička will hope he can make it five on Wednesday.