For the Lyon Olympique, the stakes are clear: either advance in the UEFA Champions League or settle for a place in the Europa League. After finishing fourth in Ligue 1 last season, Les Gones enter the third qualifying round of Europe’s premier club competition with a single goal in mind—securing a spot in the group stage. Failure to overcome Sparta Prague in this two-legged tie will still guarantee a return to continental action, albeit in the Europa League.
The French side faces a formidable challenge in the Czech capital. Sparta Prague, runners-up in their domestic league, will host Lyon at the epet Arena on Tuesday evening, with kickoff set for 20:00. The visitors arrive with several key absences: Moussa Niakhaté and Nicolas Tagliafico remain suspended, Khalis Merah and Pavel Sulc are unavailable due to injury, and seventh summer recruit Felix Bacher is still awaiting clearance. These setbacks have forced head coach Paulo Fonseca to rethink his starting lineup, particularly in defense and attack.
The offensive trio is expected to feature Belgian winger Julien Duranville, recently signed from Borussia Dortmund for €5 million, alongside right-back-turned-left-back Abner and new striker Loïs Openda, on loan from Juventus. Malick Fofana, Ernest Nuamah, and Rémi Himbert are likely to begin the match from the bench, ready to make an impact if called upon.
Fonseca’s probable starting XI, as reported by L’Équipe, is expected to line up as follows: Greif – Mata, Tessmann, Kluivert, Ouédraogo – Morton, De Carvalho, Tolisso – Abner, Openda, Duranville.
Where to watch the Lyon vs Sparta Prague clash
Sparta Prague, led by playmaker Adam Karabec—a former Lyon loanee—will be aiming to cause an upset in front of their home crowd. The Norwegian striker Jonatan Braut Brunes, cousin of Erling Haaland, will spearhead their attack. Should Lyon progress to the playoff round, they will face the winner of Fenerbahçe versus Sturm Graz, as determined by Monday’s draw.
The opening leg of this high-stakes tie is set to air live on Canal+, with the return match scheduled for next Tuesday at 19:00 on the same premium channel. All return fixtures in the third qualifying round are set for Tuesday, following the UEFA Super Cup clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa on Wednesday.
