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The Olympique Lyonnais are determined to secure their spot in the upcoming Champions League, but their fourth-place finish last season means they must navigate two qualifying rounds—starting with a showdown against Sparta Prague. The French side, despite a solid 2025-2026 campaign, faces a steep challenge against the Czech champions, who finished runners-up domestically under the guidance of Danish manager Brian Priske.
Historically, Lyon has dominated this fixture. In six prior meetings, the Gones emerged victorious five times, with only a single draw (1-1 in 2012) breaking the streak. Their most recent clash in 2021 ended in a 3-0 home win for Lyon during a Europa League encounter. Sparta Prague, however, has shown resilience this summer, bouncing back from an opening-day loss to FC Zbrojovka Brno with a commanding 3-1 home victory over FC Zlín.
Lyon arrives in Prague on the back of a turbulent preseason, including three consecutive defeats—one notably to local rivals Slavia Prague—raising questions about their readiness. Meanwhile, Sparta Prague has undergone significant squad changes, losing key players like Kairinen and Albion Rrahmani but bolstering their attack with the signing of Jonatan Braut Brunes, a prolific striker from Raków Częstochowa who netted 16 goals last term.
Match details: Sparta Prague vs Lyon
• Date: Tuesday, August 4
• Kickoff: 20:00 CEST
• Venue: epet ARENA, Prague
• Referee: Gozubuyuk S.
• VAR: Available
Where to watch Sparta Prague vs Lyon live
French viewers can catch the action exclusively on CANAL+, which will broadcast the match across CANAL+ Foot, CANAL+ France, and its streaming platform CANAL+ Live 1. An active subscription is required for access.
Sparta Prague’s probable lineup
- Surovcik – Kaderabek, Sevinsky, Zeleny, Mercado
- Irving, Sochurek
- Alcocer, Karabec, Haraslin, Braut
Manager: Brian Priske
Lyon’s probable lineup
- Greif – Maitland-Niles, Mata, Kluivert, Ouédraogo
- de Carvalho, Morton, Tolisso
- Boudache, Himbert, Duranville
Manager: Paulo Fonseca
Injuries and absences for Lyon
Lyon will be without several key players, including defenders Mads Bidstrup and Pavel Šulc, as well as full-backs Nicolas Tagliafico and Moussa Niakhaté. However, their marquee summer signing, striker Loïs Openda, is expected to feature prominently.
Head-to-head: Sparta Prague vs Lyon
In their last five meetings, Lyon has outscored Sparta Prague 15-5, underscoring their clear advantage in this rivalry. The Czech side has never beaten the French club in six attempts, with the most recent clash—a 3-0 Lyon victory—occurring during the 2021 Europa League group stage. The only draw between the two sides came in 2012, a 1-1 stalemate in Prague during another Europa League fixture.
Betting odds for Sparta Prague vs Lyon
Current betting lines (as of publication) suggest:
- Sparta Prague victory: 3.10
- Draw: 3.43
- Lyon victory: 1.97
For qualification markets:
- Sparta Prague to advance: 3.30
- Lyon to advance: 1.25
Odds are subject to change prior to kickoff.