Ararat Armenia - Sparta Prague

Sandro Lima enters this Europa League matchday 1 clash in sharp form, spearheading an Ararat Armenia attack that recently dismantled Syunik 3-0. The hosts have shown grit in continental competition, having navigated a tight qualification tie against Universitatea Craiova to reach this stage. The expected XI, anchored by the defensive trio of Bruno Wilson, Junior Bueno, and Alexandros Malis, will aim to maintain the momentum built during their recent domestic run. Playing at the Football Academy Stadium, the side looks to leverage their home consistency to overcome a challenging opening fixture in the league phase.

Sparta Prague arrive seeking to build on a convincing 2-0 victory over Jablonec. While their recent domestic form has been inconsistent, including a heavy defeat to Slavia Prague, they possess significant European experience from their previous meetings with the hosts. With Jonatan Braut Brunes expected to lead the line, the visitors will look to exploit gaps in the transition. Having previously secured aggregate success against Ararat Armenia in 2025, Sparta Prague will aim to control the midfield tempo through Matej Rynes and Andy Irving to dictate the pace of this encounter.