Having secured a commendable fourth-place finish in Ligue 1 last season, Olympique Lyonnais earned their entry into the prestigious Champions League preliminary rounds. The French side now faces the challenge of navigating two more qualifying stages to reach the coveted group phase, a feat they have not accomplished since 2020. Their pre-season preparations have been less than convincing, highlighted by a significant 4-0 defeat against Betis Séville in their most recent friendly fixture, underscoring the demanding task ahead.

Meanwhile, Sparta Prague has already commenced their domestic campaign, with two matches played in the Chance Liga. The Czech vice-champions, who finished just behind rivals Slavia last season, have experienced a mixed start to their current league run, recording one loss (1-3 against Brno) and one victory (3-1 over Zlin). Under the guidance of Brian Priske, Sparta Prague demonstrated their European pedigree in the 2025-2026 season by successfully qualifying for the Champions League group stage, overcoming formidable opponents such as Shamrock Rovers, Steaua Bucarest, and Malmö.