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UEFA Conference League: Sparta Prague v Aberdeen BBC Radio Scotland This video can not be played UEFA Conference League: Sparta Prague v Aberdeen BBC Radio Scotland Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin will select "the best team available" against Sparta Prague, despite their final Conference League game being a dead rubber. A 1-0 home defeat by Strasbourg in their last outing put paid to the Scottish Premiership side's already slim hopes of progressing to the knockout stages. It means Aberdeen, who are ranked 33rd out of the 36 teams in the competition, only have pride to play for in the Czech capital on Thursday. "We have a strong competition inside the squad, but we are going to try to put the best team we can on the pitch, " Thelin said. "Players want to play in the starting XI, they want to grow, and you have to create this capacity to perform Thursday-Sunday. For us it is a good opportunity. " Aberdeen have taken just two points from their five games in the competition so far, with five of the sides they have played among the top 10 teams in the table. They draw with AEK Larnaca in Cyprus and at home against Armenia's Noah, but lost their Pittodrie opener against Shakhtar Donetsk and away against AEK Athens. "We are playing against a really strong opponent so for us it is to prove that we are also a good team and take the challenge and try to win the game, " Thelin said. While Aberdeen don't have anything tangible to play for, their opponents – who are sixth in the tournament standings – know a win would see them progress straight through to the round of 16, avoiding the knockout phase play-offs. "We have played against really good teams, " Thelin added. "I feel the team has grown from the play-offs in to the group phase and I think a lot of players have learned a lot about what demands are on them to perform, Thursday-Sunday. ' "We have done well in the league after European games, so I think the players are growing and taking small steps so how for us it is important to show tomorrow that we keep growing and also again on Sunday. " Aberdeen will again be minus injured pair Kristers Tobers and Gavin Molloy. Other than that, Thelin says it will be the "same squad as before" but said some players "have some small issues". Sparta are missing several players due to injury. Midfielders Magnus Kofod Andersen and Dominik Holly, plus defenders Emmanuel Uchenna and Elias Cobbaut are all sidelined. Midfielder Santiago Eneme is with Equatorial Guinea at the Africa Cup of Nations. While Sparta are already through to the play-off round at least, they still need to win to protect their place in the top eight and book a place directly into the last 16. That, and the fact this is their final game before a six-week winter break, means they have less incentive to rotate their squad than Aberdeen. Brian Priske's side are unbeaten in four games and have only lost one of their last nine, but a lack of victories means they have slipped seven points behind Slavia. In the Conference League, a 4-1 home win over Shamrock Rovers aside, their games have been decided by a single goal. Away wins over Legia Warsaw and Universitatea Craiova have been key to getting them into sixth spot, while their only loss came in Rijeka amid farcical scenes, when the second half had to be played the following day after a downpour. Sparta play a 3-4-3 formation and their key man is captain Lukas Haraslin, who plays on the left of the front three. The 49-cap Czech Republic international is technically good and has five goals and five assists this season, including setting up the winner in Romania last time. Kosovo striker Albion Rrahmani has 12 goals, while another Czech Republic international, Jan Kuchta, has nine. It is a team with plenty of European and international experience, and which has lost just once in 15 home games this season, making it a daunting task for Aberdeen. Aberdeen striker Kevin Nisbet: ''We are on a great run of form in the league and didn't pick up enough points in the competition but for us it is another game to go and take a step forward as a team and try and get three points. " Sparta Prague head coach Brian Priske: "They have had some good games in the Conference League - they got battered in Athens but other than that they've been very good - and have been close to picking up more points than they actually have. " Sparta Prague captain Lukas Haraslin: "I thought this would be typical British football, just kick the ball all the way forward, but then I saw the video and I was almost thinking we are watching a Spanish side, so I expect a really good game. " Aberdeen lie sixth in the Scottish Premiership, while Sparta sit second in the Czech First League, seven points behind Slavia Prague. Sparta lie sixth in the Conference League, with Aberdeen 33rd of the 36 teams and are already unable to qualify for the knock-out stage. Aberdeen have lost only once in 10 outings, and Sparta once in nine. Sparta are without a win in their latest four home games, while Aberdeen are without a defeat in four away from home. Aberdeen have faced Czech Republic opposition once before, losing 8-1 on aggregate Sigma Olomouc in a 2009-10 Europa League qualifier. Sparta have played Scottish opponents 12 times, winning seven and losing three. Rangers were the last Scottish team to face Sparta, drawing 0-0 in Prague and winning 2-1 at Ibrox in the Europa League group stage in 2023-24. Sparta have never lost to Scottish opponents at home, winning four of their six meetings. Last Updated 12th December 2025 at 01: 21 Please Note: All times UK. 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