Olympique Lyonnais to discover Champions League third qualifying round opponent on Monday
Olympique Lyonnais will learn the identity of their third qualifying round Champions League opponent this Monday at noon. The potential adversaries are Union Saint-Gilloise, Sparta Prague, NEC Nijmegen, or the winner of Sturm Graz vs Hearts.
The Gones, top seeds in this path with the best UEFA coefficient (65.750), face a challenging road ahead. Only two Ligue 1 teams have successfully navigated this route in the past thirteen seasons: Monaco in summer 2016 and Lille in 2024. Lyon themselves fell short in August 2013, losing their playoff tie against Real Sociedad (0-2, 0-2) featuring Antoine Griezmann.
Should they advance past the third round, their next obstacle would be a playoff tie in mid-August, followed by the group stage if victorious. Lyon’s preparation has been uneven, with a 0-2 loss to Slavia Prague on Saturday marring their three-match winning streak during their week-long training camp in Herzogenaurach, Germany. Their preseason friendly campaign ended with eight goals conceded in four matches.
Potential opponents: strengths and challenges
Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium)
Possessing the highest UEFA coefficient (48.000) among the five possible opponents, Union Saint-Gilloise is a formidable side. Champions of Belgium in 2025 and cup winners in 2026, they finished second in the league behind Club Bruges. Despite two prior Champions League qualifying exits, they competed in last season’s competition, narrowly missing the Round of 16 on goal difference (27th with 9 points) after a 2-3 loss to Marseille on December 9.
The Belgian outfit, fielding a stable 5-3-2 defensive system, has prepared since June 24. They secured two wins in three friendlies against Romanian side S. Bucarest (4-0, July 7) and Danish team Aarhus (2-1), before a 3-3 draw with PSV Eindhoven (two 75-minute halves) and a 0-4 reversal. They’ll continue preparations with closed-doors friendlies against Lille and Ostend before facing Club Bruges in the Belgian Supercup on July 31.
Key players to watch: Kjell Scherpen (goalkeeper, 2.04m, reportedly leaving), Anan Khalaili (winger, rested after failed Inter Milan transfer due to unsatisfactory cardiac tests).
Sparta Prague (Czech Republic)
Ranked second in the Czech league with a UEFA coefficient of 38.250, Sparta Prague presents an aggressive challenge. Their physical, man-marking style made them difficult to break down for Lyon, who struggled against Slavia Prague in a 4-3-3 formation last weekend. Sparta’s tactics involve committing many fouls to disrupt opponents, complicating attacking play—a challenge Paulo Fonseca’s side will need to overcome.
NEC Nijmegen (Netherlands)
Direct qualifiers for the third round as third-place finishers in their domestic league, NEC Nijmegen boast a UEFA coefficient of 13.585. Though less experienced at this level, their recent domestic form suggests they could be a tricky opponent for Lyon, who have struggled defensively in preseason.
Sturm Graz vs Hearts (Austria/Scotland)
The winner of the second-round tie between Austrian champions Sturm Graz (UEFA coefficient 26.000) and Scottish side Hearts (2025-26 league runners-up) awaits the victor of this path. The first leg in Austria takes place tomorrow, with the return in Scotland on July 28.
Lyon’s path to success hinges on defensive resilience
Lyon’s preseason has been far from ideal, conceding eight goals in four matches. Injuries to Malick Fofana (ankle) and the suspension of Moussa Niakhaté for the first leg of the third round add further complications. Paulo Fonseca’s side must tighten their defensive organization and capitalize on their attacking potential to navigate this treacherous route to the Champions League group stage.