Young Boys v Sparta Praha background

BSC Young Boys can seize a UEFA Europa League round of 32 place on matchday six but need to beat AC Sparta Praha if they are to deny their guests a knockout phase berth.

• Young Boys must beat Sparta to finish in the top two places; a draw would not be enough due to their inferior head-to-head record against SSC Napoli.

• Sparta will make it through if they avoid defeat, but they will finish below Napoli if the sides are level on points due to an inferior head-to-head record.

Form guide
• Two goals from David Lafata helped Sparta win 3-1 when these sides met for the first time, in the Czech Republic on matchday two.

• Sparta failed to score in their first three games in Switzerland (D1 L2) but won 3-1 at FC Lausanne-Sport on their most recent visit, during the 2010/11 UEFA Europa League group stage.

• Young Boys are on a six-game winning streak at home in Europe; Sparta's away record in Europe this season is W1 D2 L2.

Trivia and links
• This is Sparta's 250th UEFA club competition game; the previous 249 ended W101 D58 L90.

• 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.

The coaches
• 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.

• 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.