Sparta Prague to face Olympique Lyonnais without captain in Champions League return leg
With Lukas Haraslin heading to Saudi Arabia, Sparta Prague’s victorious team from last week’s 2-1 Champions League qualifier against Olympique Lyonnais will field an unchanged lineup in the second leg, aiming not just to advance but to press forward aggressively.
After five seasons with the club, captain Lukas Haraslin completed his move to Al-Fateh in Saudi Arabia immediately following Sparta Prague’s 2-1 victory over Olympique Lyonnais in the first leg. The transfer, reported to be worth around €5 million, marks the second major departure this summer after Jan Kuchta’s move to Legia Warsaw.
With Haraslin gone, Danish manager Brian Priske faces a reshaped squad after Saturday’s 0-2 league defeat at Mladá Boleslav, where seven new players featured. However, the promising Josimar Alcocer, who impressed in the first leg, is expected to step into the captain’s role. Sparta Prague is likely to field the same starting XI at Groupama Stadium, banking on consistency and momentum.
“We have a real opportunity to qualify if we replicate our first-leg performance,” Priske stated. “Lyon came to play their first competitive match of the season on our pitch—it’s never easy. They haven’t played since then, which could be a small advantage for us. I hope we remain focused, especially in midfield.”