Lyon seek to overturn Sparta Prague deficit in Champions League qualifier

Olympique Lyonnais host Sparta Prague at the Groupama Stadium on Tuesday as they attempt to overturn a 2-1 first-leg defeat and keep their Champions League hopes alive.

The second leg of the third qualifying round will begin at 19:00 GMT on 11 August 2026. The match will be broadcast on beIN Sports and Canal+.

Lyon appeared to be in a strong position during last week’s meeting in Prague after taking the lead, but their failure to convert a penalty and subsequent defensive problems allowed Sparta to claim victory. The Czech side now need to protect that narrow advantage to secure their place in the next stage of qualifying.

For Lyon, the tie represents an opportunity to return to the Champions League after a six-year absence. They finished fourth in Ligue 1 last season, although their campaign ended with defeats by Toulouse and Lens.

The French club’s pre-season results offered encouragement. They recorded victories against Macon, St Gallen, Servette and Wolfsburg, with their attacking play providing some positive signs. However, defeats by Slavia Prague and Real Betis raised concerns before the competitive season began.

The two clubs have not met since 2021, when they faced each other in the Europa League group stage. Lyon won both encounters, edging a seven-goal thriller 4-3 in Prague before completing a 3-0 victory at home. This time, the stakes are significantly higher, with qualification for the Champions League at stake.

Sparta Prague will arrive in Lyon defending a valuable lead after their home success. The club reached the semi-finals of the Conference League last season and are targeting a place in Europe’s leading competition after failing to progress beyond the league phase of their 2025 campaign.

They finished second behind Slavia Prague in the 2024-25 Czech championship. Their domestic season began with a defeat at Brno, but Brian Priske’s side responded by beating Zlin.

Lyon’s main advantage on Tuesday will be the support of their home crowd. They must attack with greater consistency and avoid the missed opportunities that hurt them in the first leg. Their encouraging pre-season displays in front of goal suggest they have the ability to challenge Sparta’s lead, while the visitors are expected to adopt a cautious approach as they seek to complete the job.

The prediction from Africafoot is a 2-0 victory for Lyon, a result that would send the French club through after their first-leg setback.

Betting company 1xBet lists Lyon as the favourites, with the home side priced at 1.54 to win. A draw is listed at 4.65, while a Sparta Prague victory is priced at 6.26.