Sparta Praha v Young Boys background

AC Sparta Praha have scored at an average rate of over four goals a game at home in Europe this season and will take confidence from that form as they welcome BSC Young Boys in UEFA Europa League Group I.

Form guide
• Sparta have not won in their last three home fixtures against Swiss opponents (D2 L1).

• Sparta have won all three of their home games in Europe this season, racking up 14 goals in the process.

• Young Boys are unbeaten in four European away contests (W2 D2).

Trivia and links
• This is Young Boys' 50th UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup game; the previous 49 have ended W22 D12 L15.

• Sparta defender Radoslav Kováč spent the 2011/12 season in Switzerland at FC Basel 1893.

• Young Boys boast Czech talent in the form of defender Jan Lecjaks, who started his career at FC Viktoria Plzeň.

• Young Boys came crashing down to earth two days after opening their Group I account with a 5-0 win against ŠK Slovan Bratislava, as they lost 1-0 to amateur side FC Buochs in the Swiss Cup.

• Czech clubs have had marginally the better of their 33 meetings with Swiss teams in UEFA club competition (W16 D6 L11), with the last three encounters ending in Czech wins.

The coaches
• As a midfielder, Vítězslav Lavička represented Sparta in three spells, and in 2012 embarked on his third stint as the club's coach, previous postings having seen him lead the Czech Under-21 team and Australian side Sydney FC.

• A one-time central defender, Young Boys coach Uli Forte is enjoying his first foray in Europe. Having moved into coaching as player-manager at FC Red Star Zürich, he took charge of FC Wil 1900, FC St Gallen and Grasshopper Club before taking command at Young Boys in 2013.