UEFA Champions League round-up: Sparta Prague blitz RB ...

19 hours ago
Sparta Prague

Sparta Prague kicked off their UEFA Champions League campaign with their biggest win in the competition this century.

The Czech club breezed to a 3-0 victory over Red Bull Salzburg thanks to goals from Kaan Kairinen, Victor Olatunji and Qazim Laci.

The former took just two minutes to open the scoring, with further strikes added in the 42nd and 58th minutes.

It is the first time Sparta have won a group or league stage game by more than a two-goal margin since hammering Dutch outfit Willem II 4-0 in 1999.

The result leaves them behind only Bayern Munich on goal difference at this early juncture in the competition.

Given it is 18 years since Lars Friis' side got past the qualifying rounds for the competition, supporters could barely have dreamed of a more emphatic result on their return to Europe's premier club tournament.

Salzburg, managed by ex-Liverpool assistant boss Pepijn Lijnders, would have hoped for a better introduction.

However, they have now suffered back-to-back defeats across all competitions, following a loss to Rapid Vienna in the league at the weekend.

Elsewhere, Champions League rookies Bologna did not find things quite as easy in their match against Shakhtar Donetsk, with the two sides playing out a 0-0 draw.

The Italian club last played in the European Cup in 1964, when they were beaten over two legs by Anderlecht in the preliminary round.

There was therefore plenty of excitement at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara, as Vincenzo Italiano's side welcomed their Italian visitors.

However, they failed to convert any of their 17 shots on goal, of which just four were on target.

At the other end, things could have been very different, but Heorhiy Sudakov missed a penalty in the fourth minute.

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