SC Bern host Sparta Prague tonight to complete the first leg of the Quarter-Finals.

SC Bern vs. Sparta Prague

PostFinance Arena, 19:45

Referees: Mikko Kaukokari & Antti Boman (both FIN)

The team from the Swiss capital hosts its Czech counterpart on a very good run of form so far this season. One place off the top of the NLA, having won 13 of their last 15 domestic contests. Coach Kari Jalonen coached Lev Prague in the KHL so will know a thing or two about some of the Sparta players his side comes up against.

Bern have let to lose this season in the CHL, but due to the availability of their home arena, they will open the Quarter-Final at home as the lone CHL game on Wednesday, 7 December, despite being the higher seed. 

"They're a good team and very strong on a European level," Bern captain Martin Pluss said of Sparta. "We're on a good road this season, doing okay in the league and playing well as a team together. Now we want to be a top European team as well."

"He's going know everything about our team," pointed out Sparta forward Petr Vrana, who played for Jalonen with Lev Prague in the KHL. “That was his big thing – he always went through the whole team, prepared us every game for everything the opponents were going to do, so I'm sure they'll be 100 percent ready for us."

Sparta are unbeaten on the road this season in the CHL, something Vrana thinks could be down to good concentration. "Maybe we focus more, maybe we start better because we expect the other guys are gonna come out strong ... I don't know exactly, but it's worked out well for us so far, so hopefully it continues," he added.

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