There are many who are dismissing Sparta Prague as also rans in this group, but to do so would be not only silly but short sighted.
It cannot be denied that the Czech league is not the strongest in Europe and indeed Sparta are not even the strongest team in at present having been eclipsed by Viktoria Plzen in the past two seasons, but that would not give the full picture of a team who have a lot of experience in European competition.
Although they have fared badly in the Champions League having failed to qualify for the group stages in 10 years, they have done far better in the Europa League and indeed reached the quarter finals last season.
This shows that they should not be treated lightly and to add to that they have made a good start to this season and appear to be a side that keep it tight at the back and build on that.
So Saints fans who dismiss them as a decent team in a poor league might find themselves eating their words come 10pm this evening, European football is a different ball game to the premier league and Sparta have that experience of knowing what is needed to be done differently to progress.
But the fact that Saints do seem to be playing in a more continental style this season and in Claude Puel have a manager who himself has a lot of experience in both the Champions League as well as the Europa League could be an advantage for Saints, the Frenchman will not go gung ho for a win tonight and risk getting caught on the break as Saints found to their cost at home to Midjytlland last season.
Sparta will arrive at St Mary's with the aim of keeping it tight and looking to nick a goal on the break, Saints and for that matter the crowd will need to be patient and not expect to win the game in the opening 20 minutes, although that would be nice.