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Summary: Sparta Prague 2-1 Glasgow City Women’s Champions League Round of 16, second leg: Glasgow City – Sparta PragueVenue of events: Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld Date: Wednesday December 16 Time: 19:00 GMTCoverage: Watch it live on BBC Alba and on the BBC Sport website and app
Glasgow City’s 5-0 loss to Rangers will not derail their hopes of progressing in the Champions League, says head coach Scott Booth.
The Scottish champions will attempt to overcome a 2-1 deficit in the first leg when they host Sparta Prague at Broadwood on Wednesday in the round of 16.
City fell off the top of the SWPL on Sunday after suffering a home loss to the Rangers.
“We have to focus on this game now, the Rangers game is gone,” Booth said.
“The Champions League has always come down to us when we’ve had really tough games in recent years, and we’ve done it separately.
“In terms of our national football, this first half of the season is over, so now we can fully focus on Wednesday’s game to get the result we need.
“I think the players will just want to go play again, and a game that comes as fast as this, immediately after a big loss, is probably the best way to get over it.”
Booth’s team reached the knockout stages of the Champions League last season, while their two losses last week to Sparta and Rangers were their first losses of the new season.
Glasgow, which won on penalties against Irish champion Peamount United and Icelandic team Valur to reach this stage, succumbed to a narrow defeat in rainy conditions in the Czech Republic, although Sharon Wojick’s goal in the second half it has given them hope to come back.
Booth admits that while the pitch may have worked to Sparta’s benefit, the roles will be reversed on Cumbernauld’s artificial surface.
“The surface was terrible,” he said. “It was muddy and very wet and sometimes the players had a hard time keeping their feet. Sparta handled it better.
“This time we may have a small advantage playing on the surface that we know well. It will definitely suit us better.”
Source: bbc.com
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