Sparta prague set to play champions league return without captain against lyon
With captain Lukas Haraslin departing for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Fateh, Sparta Prague’s victorious team from last week’s 2-1 UEFA Champions League qualifier against Lyon will field a near-identical lineup in the return leg, aiming not just to survive but to advance.
After five seasons in the Czech capital, captain Lukas Haraslin sealed his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Fateh—a transfer reportedly worth around €5 million—just days after Sparta Prague’s first-leg triumph over Lyon. The departure follows Jan Kuchta’s earlier exit to Poland’s Legia Warsaw, compounding the challenges for Danish manager Brian Priske, who suffered a league setback on Saturday with a reshuffled squad featuring seven new signings.
With Haraslin’s leadership now missing, defender Josimar Alcocer stands ready to step in as his replacement. Alcocer’s standout performance in the first leg suggests Sparta Prague could field the same starting eleven at Groupama Stadium, banking on consistency to secure a historic qualification.
«We have a real chance to qualify if we replicate our first-leg intensity, Priske noted. Lyon arrived to play their season opener on our turf—never an easy task. Their lack of match fitness could work in our favor. I’m banking on our team’s consistency, particularly in midfield. »
