Sparta holds out at home against Manchester United

Sparta Prague managed to hold footballing giants Manchester United to a goalless draw in Prague on Tuesday night in their Champions League Group D match. In a tough game where Karel Poborsky's side had plenty of chances, the Czechs could have gone ahead, but United was disciplined as ever, and players like Ruud van Nistelrooy and the teenage forward Wayne Rooney, with reliable backup from keeper Roy Carroll, showed enough star quality to keep a shock defeat at bay. But Sparta can be happy. Although this is their first point from three Champions League matches, they can take pride in breaking Manchester's run of 15 European games where they've managed to score. Radio Prague's Alex Rosenzweig was at the game.

Sparta holds out at home against Manchester United

Gabriel Heinze and Tomas Sivok, photo: CTK

"The streets around the stadium were really full and really happy. It was obvious to see that the Sparta fans were glad to host this Manchester United game, and for them it was like the game of the season."

And did the game live up to expectations?

"Actually, the game won't go down in the history of football, but there were some good opportunities. I have to say that Sparta's back line really defended well, and despite the rushes from Giggs and the fabulous teenager Wayne Rooney, the Sparta back line held the score to the end and gave the opportunity for the forwards to score. It's only thanks to the brilliant goalkeeper that they could avoid the opportunities from Poborsky - he was really everywhere - and from Zelenka."

Wayne Rooney and Jiri Homola, photo: CTK

Afterwards you had a chance to talk to Manchester United's right-back, Gary Neville, so let's find out if he was disappointed that Manchester didn't manage to take three points home with them:

"No, I don't think so. I think all these games away in the Champions League are very difficult and we were up against good opponents tonight. I don't think our performance was bad, but we didn't get that break in front of goal. It's something that I hope will come sooner rather than later. We got to areas of the pitch we wanted to, with Wayne and Giggs breaking at them, and Ruud onto the ball into the side. But we just didn't capitalize on those opportunities. You have to give them credit. They defended well in those moments. We've got a game against them in two weeks at Old Trafford. It will be a lot different for them, I think, and hopefully a lot different for us."

The Sparta fans must have been pretty pleased with the result. They went into the game as outsiders. Was there a lot of excitement - especially towards the end when Manchester put on the pressure?

"There was a great atmosphere towards the end, because the Sparta fans wanted to hold on to the draw, and after the Italian referee blew the final whistle, there was a great cry of relief."

So let's hear what the Sparta trainer, Frantisek Straka, had to say about the game at the press conference afterwards.

Manchesters United's goalie Roy Carroll and Tomas Jun, photo: CTK

"It was a great experience for us to play Man United. I think we played a good tactical game. I can be proud of my team. I don't want to exaggerate - after all, they didn't have Rio Ferdinand, they didn't have Kean. Ronaldo wasn't playing the whole game, but my players gave our Sparta fans and everyone at the stadium a good game tonight."

Sparta only have one point so far from three games. They're going to play Manchester United again at Old Trafford in two weeks' time. Have they got a hope in hell?

"I think they have nothing to lose in Old Trafford, so the game will be maybe more interesting because for this game they had only one player in attack, so maybe Frantisek Straka will try to play harder and put some more people in the forward line."