Sparta Prague ضد Viktoria Plzen — Czech First League

**Sparta Prague 0-0 Viktoria Plzen**

**What set this match apart:** This match was more unusual than 77% of matches, with the atypicality primarily rooted in the build-up (43% of the unusualness). The most striking contrast appeared in the delivery of balls from wide areas: few accurate crosses were recorded in the match (9 in total, 8th percentile of the two teams' joint volume), yet Viktoria Plzen was clearly ahead with 9 to 0 (99th percentile of gaps). A similar pattern emerged with corners, where few corners were in the match (9 in total, 5th percentile of the two teams' joint volume), but Viktoria Plzen was clearly ahead with 9 to 0 (98th percentile of gaps).

**How it played out:** Viktoria Plzen also took the lead in direct play, making 26 accurate long balls to Sparta Prague's 18 (78th percentile of gaps), despite few accurate long balls in the match (44 in total, 19th percentile of the two teams' joint volume). In terms of defensive reading, few interceptions were in the match (10 in total, 5th percentile of the two teams' joint volume), but Viktoria Plzen was clearly ahead with 7 to 3 (74th percentile of gaps). Sparta Prague, meanwhile, focused on physical presence, winning more ground duels (40 to 25, 96th percentile of gaps) and more aerial duels (11 to 5, 84th percentile of gaps) in a game where few duels of either type were won overall. Both sides were patient in their own halves, completing 438 passes in total (88th percentile of the two teams' joint volume), with Sparta Prague making 260 to Viktoria Plzen's 178 (80th percentile of gaps). While Viktoria Plzen was clearly ahead in big chances (2 to 0, 91st percentile of gaps) and had 11 shots from distance to Sparta Prague's 3 (98th percentile of gaps), Sparta Prague threw more bodies in front of shots with 6 blocks to Viktoria Plzen's 2 (95th percentile of gaps).

**Verdict:** The fair probabilities are Sparta Prague win 21%, draw 34%, and Viktoria Plzen win 45%. The performances leaned towards a Viktoria Plzen win, but the actual result was far from unlikely. With Viktoria Plzen recording 6 shots on target to Sparta Prague's 2, the draw remains a plausible outcome.