Aris still have something to play for themselves though, as a two-goal win will move them above their Czech opponents and into the Europa Conference League spot, in a devilishly tight group heading into matchday six.
Group C is the segment of the Europa League this season in which neither team yet knows its fate before the final series of matches.
Despite being in the top two currently, one of Real Betis or Rangers will be eliminated if Sparta win here, but Brian Priske’s side also need to be careful they are not caught by the Cypriot minnows.
Even if they start the day in third place, Sparta can still win the organization and qualify for the round of 16 if they win by 3 or more goals here, and Betis draws with Rangers in Seville.
However, Priske will be pleased with any top-two result, taking the club to the Europa League round of 16 for the first time since 2016-17.
This may not be as straightforward as many predict, as Sparta have not won any of their last 12 away games in Europe and wasted 10.
The visitors will be hoping to build on their recent smart form to overcome this poor record, as they come into the match on the back of five straight wins since their defeat at Ibrox on matchday four.
Aris are bottom but can still upset the apple cart with a convincing win here, as they still have third place to play for.
With a two-goal win, the hosts can rely on them to score two away goals against Sparta in the group, and the Czechs have conceded two or more in six of their last seven European away games.
Aleksey Shpilevski’s men kept their European hopes alive by picking up a point in Glasgow on matchday five as all four of their organisational struggles have come against Rangers.
However, their form has been good in recent times, and that was compounded by a loss to AEK Larnaca at the weekend, which left them three points behind at the top of the Cypriot league.
Having beaten APOEL Nicosia, thrashing rivals AEL Limassol 4-0 away from home, and drawing at Rangers, the defeat at the weekend was just as damaging as the recent 4-1 loss at lowly Karmiotissa, a side who had not won a game all season prior.
Eric Boakye is expected to miss Aris due to injury, having been out since his start against Betis on matchday three.
Attacker Yannick Gomis made his return from an injury of his own at the weekend, though, coming on as an early second-half substitute in the defeat at Larnaca.
Shpilevski will be hoping to get Shavy Babicka back after missing the last two games, which is likely to make him the biggest risk for the hosts, as the Gabonese foreigner already has three goals in the organization phase, adding one in the opponent’s match.
Sparta will be sweating for Lukas Haraslin, who suffered a slight knock at the weekend in their win over Jablonec.
The Slovakian winger has been instrumental in his good form of late, scoring five goals in five starts for club and country since returning from injury last month.
Asger Sorensen has a similar issue currently, but apart from that, Priske has a full squad to choose from, and after going full strength at the weekend, they could remain unchanged.
Martin Vitik was sent off on Saturday but will be available here, so the only position likely to be up for grabs will be at left wing-back, between Matej Rynes and Jaroslav Zeleny.Aris Limassol possible starting lineup:Vana Alves; Mayambela, Yago, Moucketo-Moussounda, Urosevic, Caju; Bengtsson, Szoke, Strutski, Babicka; Kokorin
Possible Sparta Prague XI: Vindahl; Vitik, Panak, Krejci; Preciado, Laci, Kairinen, Rynes; Birmancevic, Kuchta, Haraslin
There is a strong possibility that Aris will qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League in their first season in Europe, but they will be a piece of cake for Sparta.
A narrow 3-2 win in opposite matches shows that Aris can be a tricky client, but the visitors deserve to win here and take their position in the round of 16 of this competition, even if they are under the three-goal margin needed to potentially win. the group. For a knowledge research on the probable maximum results, scores and more for this match, click here.