Following a narrow 2-1 defeat in the first leg, Olympique Lyonnais finds itself in a precarious position as it prepares to host Sparta Prague at Groupama Stadium. This pivotal Champions League qualifier return leg is set for Tuesday, with live commentary of the Lyon-Sparta Prague match commencing at 9:00 PM.
Coach Paulo Fonseca, who faced considerable scrutiny for his tactical choices after the initial loss, has opted for a different starting lineup this time. He will feature Malick Fofana and Ernest Nuamah from the outset, alongside Moussa Niakhaté, who returns to action after serving a suspension. The victor of this crucial encounter will advance to face either Fenerbahçe or Sturm Graz in the play-off round.
With a 2-1 deficit from their visit to Prague last week, Olympique Lyonnais has no margin for error. To secure a spot in the Champions League play-offs, Fonseca’s squad must overcome Sparta, who hold a slender one-goal advantage entering this return fixture. Lyon initially took the lead in the Czech Republic courtesy of an own goal, but then conceded twice within a six-minute span during the second half. Corentin Tolisso’s missed penalty in the 67th minute further compounded their challenges in the first leg.
This two-legged confrontation pits two clubs against each other that earned their European berths after strong 2025-2026 campaigns. Lyon concluded their Ligue 1 season in fourth place with 60 points, registering 18 victories, 6 draws, and 10 defeats, finishing just one point behind third-placed Lille to secure their spot in the third qualifying round. Meanwhile, Sparta Prague claimed second place in the Czech championship, accumulating 76 points, four fewer than league winners Slavia Prague.
The Czech side arrives in Décines with their European preparation already well underway. After their triumph against Lyon, they suffered a 2-0 league defeat to Mladá Boleslav on Saturday. This marks their second domestic loss in three matchdays, following an earlier 3-1 reverse against Zbrojovka Brno on the opening day of their season. Lyon, in contrast, has yet to play any official Ligue 1 matches this season, making this Champions League encounter only their second competitive fixture of the new campaign.
