Mellberg's tough debut - defeat in Prague

Olof Mellberg made 26 appearances in the Champions League. Now his son John has played his first. The 18-year-old made his debut in Salzburg's 0-3 defeat away to Sparta Prague.

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Mellberg's tough debut - defeat in Prague
Photo: Petr David Josek/AP/TT

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Last year, John Mellberg left Brommapojkarna to continue his football career in Austrian Salzburg.

The defender got a day in the club – then he ended up in the cooperation team Liefering on loan.

This season, he is back in Salzburg.

Mellberg has started one match in the Bundesliga, come on as a substitute in another, and now made his debut in the Champions League.

But his first match in the club tournament was tough.

Sparta Prague, who knocked out Malmö FF in the qualifying round, took the lead after two minutes via Kaan Kairinen, and at the end of the first half came the next cold shower. Mellberg called offside and Victor Olatunji increased to 2–0.

At halftime, the Swede was replaced by Mamady Diambou, but it didn't stop Sparta Prague. In the 58th minute, Qazim Laci made it 3–0.

Dad Olof Mellberg, former national team star and now BP coach, was noted for 26 matches in the Champions League during a career where he played for, among others, Aston Villa, Juventus, and Olympiakos.

Bologna's Emil Holm has a hard time taking a place in the Italian club's starting eleven – and watched the home game against Shakhtar Donetsk from the bench.

From there, the defender noted that teammate Heorhij Sudakov missed a penalty in the fourth minute in a match that ended 0–0.

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By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

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