After a narrow 2-1 defeat in the first leg, Olympique Lyonnais finds itself under immense pressure as it prepares to host Sparta Prague at Groupama Stadium this Tuesday. This pivotal second leg of the Champions League 3rd preliminary round sees Lyon needing a strong performance to advance. We will be providing live coverage of the Lyon-Sparta Prague encounter from 9:00 PM.

Head coach Paulo Fonseca, who faced significant criticism for his tactical decisions following the disappointing away loss, has opted for a revamped starting lineup. Malick Fofana and Ernest Nuamah are both set to feature from the outset, alongside Moussa Niakhaté, who returns to action after serving his suspension. The victor of this crucial tie will earn the right to face either Fenerbahçe or Sturm Graz in the playoff round.

Following their 2-1 loss in Prague last week, Olympique Lyonnais has no margin for error. To secure a spot in the Champions League playoffs, Paulo Fonseca’s squad must overturn the deficit against Sparta, who currently hold a one-goal advantage heading into this return fixture. Lyon had initially taken the lead in the Czech Republic through an own goal, only to concede twice in a span of six minutes during the second half. Corentin Tolisso’s missed penalty in the 67th minute also proved to be a significant turning point in the match’s narrative.

This two-legged contest pits two clubs against each other who earned their European berths after commendable 2025-2026 seasons. Lyon concluded its Ligue 1 campaign in fourth place with 60 points, recording 18 victories, 6 draws, and 10 defeats, finishing just one point adrift of third-placed Lille, thereby securing its place in the third qualifying round. Sparta Prague, meanwhile, claimed second position in the Czech championship with 76 points, four points behind rival Slavia Prague.

The Czech side arrives in Décines with their European preparations already well underway. Following their victory over Lyon, they experienced a 2-0 defeat to Mladá Boleslav in their league match on Saturday. This marks their second domestic setback in three matchdays, having also lost 3-1 to Zbrojovka Brno on the opening day. Lyon, conversely, has yet to play any official Ligue 1 fixtures this season, making this confrontation only its second competitive outing of the current campaign after the first leg.