In an emphatic start to their Champions League campaign, Sparta Prague dominated RB Salzburg, securing a 3-0 victory. From the opening whistle, Sparta controlled the pace and kept their opponents on the back foot, with Salzburg struggling to make any significant impact. An early goals from Kaan Kairinen and a strike from Victor Olatunji in the 42nd minute put Prague in the driver's seat, while a second-half strike by Qazim Laçi sealed the victory.
Salzburg, despite having the majority of possession (71%), lacked the creativity and sharpness to break down Sparta’s defence, leading to a frustrating evening for the Austrian side.
Sparta Prague Player Ratings
Sparta Prague's players put in a solid performance across the board. Kaan Kairinen was influential in midfield, not only scoring the opening goal but also contributing significantly to Sparta’s control of the game.
Laçi’s goal further cemented his outstanding performance, making him one of the standout players. Defensively, Filip Panák and the backline were solid, keeping RB Salzburg at bay throughout the match.
Goalkeeper Peter Vindahl Jensen had little to do but remained alert when called upon, earning a respectable rating.
While some players like Tomáš Wiesner struggled to make an impact, the collective performance of Sparta's squad was more than enough to see them cruise to victory.
Here are the player ratings for Sparta Prague:
RB Salzburg Player Ratings
Despite having more possession, RB Salzburg struggled to penetrate Prague's defence and often looked disjointed in attack. Oscar Gloukh was the only Salzburg player who showed glimpses of quality, earning the highest rating for his team. The rest of the midfield and forward line, including players like Noah Okafor and Maurits Kjaergaard, failed to create meaningful opportunities.
In defence, Kamil Piątkowski and Amar Dedić tried to hold firm but were overrun by Sparta's clinical attack. Goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, although making a few key saves, couldn’t prevent the goals and received a mediocre rating for his efforts.
Here are the player ratings for RB Salzburg:
Best Player of the Match - Qazim Laçi
Qazim Laçi was instrumental for Sparta Prague, providing energy and creativity from midfield. His work rate was exceptional, and his goal early in the second half put the game out of Salzburg’s reach, capping off a stellar all-around performance.
Worst Player on the Pitch - Hendry Blank
Hendry Blank had a night to forget. The Salzburg defender was unable to help his side with only one tackle won, three duels won and having given away a foul during the 90.
