Shamrock Rovers vs Sparta Praha Prediction: Visitors to win comfortably

Shamrock Rovers welcome Sparta Praha to Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday (20:00) for the first leg of their Champions League second round qualifier. The League of Ireland Premier Division side just edged past Vikingur in the last round and they are going to face a much tougher test here.

Read on for my Shamrock Rovers vs Sparta Praha prediction, including match odds and team news.

Shamrock Rovers vs Sparta Praha Odds

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Shamrock Rovers are 8/1 to win this match, which gives them an implied probability of 11.1%. Sparta Praha are valued at 2/7, giving them a 77.8% chance of victory. The draw can be backed at 18/5 (21.7%).

Both teams to score is priced at 11/10 and over 2.5 goals is marketed at 4/6.

Football Odds

Team News

Jack Byrne is suspended for the hosts after picking up a second yellow card in the second leg against Vikingur last time out. In a swap, Darragh Nugent is available for selection having served a suspension in that clash, and he should immediately return to the starting XI.

Markus Poom, Graham Burke, Aaron McEneff and Rory Gaffney are all expected to miss out through injury.

Sparta Praha head to Dublin without Kaan Kairinen, who is sidelined with a broken leg. Boss Brian Priske might opt to make changes to the side that won their opening league fixture at the weekend against FK Pardubice. Forward Victor Olatunji was on the scoresheet, so he could be kept in the side to give them a goal threat, as well as building up the player's confidence.

Sparta Praha and over 3.5 goals @ 21/10

I am expecting the Czech side to take the advantage in this first leg given the gulf in class between the two sides. They have a lot more quality in their ranks than their Irish hosts, and if Rovers play like they did in their last European match, I think they will be punished.

They were fortunate to edge past Vikingur and had the Icelandic side showed a bit more composure, it could have been a different story. I think Sparta Praha can win this match on foreign soil, and win it fairly comfortably. Performances have been up and down for the hosts in the league as well, which doesn't fill me with any confidence that they can get a result here.

I can see four goals being scored in this match, with the majority coming from the away side.

Both teams to score @ 11/10

That being said, I do see Rovers getting on the scoresheet. They're at home and will be spurred on by their own fans, and it will be critical for this tie that they score in Dublin.

They have shown glimpses of quality in Europe so far and I think that we are likely to see another here. I think they can get at least get a consolation goal on home soil to give themselves a slight glimmer of hope ahead of the second leg in Prague. The visitors have also conceded in their last three matches (including two friendlies), so I do think Rovers can get in on the goalscoring action.

Offers

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