Champions League: Victor Olatunji scores as Sparta Prague bow to Brest
Victor Olatunji on Wednesday night scored his second goal of the Champions League season. Unfortunately for Olatunji and his teammates, their efforts yielded another disappointing result, as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat against French team Stade Brestois.
This latest setback marks a concerning trend for Sparta Prague, who have now lost seven straight matches against Ligue 1 clubs, raising serious questions about their performance on the European stage.
The Czech side witnessed Stade Brestois revel in their victory, a crucial milestone in their own Champions League campaign.
Throughout the match, both teams exhibited intense competition, but the quality of play fell short of their aspirations. Sparta’s defense faced early pressure, with goalkeeper Peter Vindahl nearly conceding due to a misplayed backpass but managing to recover in time to thwart Brest’s offense.
A chaotic moment in the Brest penalty area soon followed, but Sparta failed to capitalize as Jakub Pešek’s cutback merely deflected off Olatunji. As the match unfolded, Brest’s Ludovic Ajorque consistently pressured Sparta’s defense, yet his attempts went unrewarded.
Moments before halftime, Edimilson Fernandes took advantage of a defensive lapse from Sparta, scoring and giving the French team the lead.
Despite a strong response in the second half, disaster struck for Sparta in the form of an own goal that extended Brest’s advantage.
Late in the contest, Olatunji reignited hopes for Sparta with a well-placed shot following a clever assist from Lukáš Sadílek. However, time was not on their side, and they could not find an equalizer, leaving Brest with a hard-earned victory and maintaining their unbeaten status in the Champions League.
Although Olatunji found the back of the net, his presence was somewhat muted, as he recorded just 28 touches—making it the fewest among all outfield players on the field.
Earlier this season, Olatunji made headlines by scoring on his Champions League debut against RB Salzburg in September, becoming the first Nigerian to score in the 2024/2025 season.
