Sparta Prague without captain Lukas Haraslin for Lyon second leg | OneFootball

Sparta Prague will be without captain Lukas Haraslin for the Champions League third qualifying round second leg at Lyon after his move to Al-Fateh in Saudi Arabia.

According to L'Équipe, Sparta are expected to stick largely with the first-leg plan and are not planning to sit back. They beat Lyon 2-1 in Prague last Tuesday.

After five seasons at the club, Haraslin left following the first leg to secure a financial move to Al-Fateh, 11th in the Saudi Pro League. Sparta should receive around five million euros. It is their second exit after Jan Kuchta joined Legia Warsaw.

The departure obliges Danish coach Brian Priske to reshuffle. His rotated team, with seven changes, lost 0-2 at Mlada Boleslav on Saturday.

With Josimar Alcocer having impressed in the first leg, Sparta are expected to keep continuity in their starting line-up at Groupama Stadium.

Priske said they have a real chance to qualify if they repeat their first-leg display. He noted Lyon were playing their first match of the season in Prague, which he felt can carry a small advantage, and he hoped for consistency, especially against their midfield.

Source: L'Équipe

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