Five things about Sparta Prague, Lyon’s Champions League qualifying opponents | OneFootball

Lyon have been drawn to face Sparta Prague in early August in the Champions League third qualifying round, a tie that has traditionally favoured OL.

L'Équipe notes that Sparta finished runners-up in the 2025-26 Czech league, eight points behind Slavia Prague. Brian Priske, 49, guided a record of 19 wins, six draws and five defeats, with 60 league goals and only one home loss at Letna.

Founded in 1893, Sparta are 14-time national champions, most recently in 2024. Alumni include Petr Cech, Pavel Nedved and Tomas Rosicky.

A reunion with Adam Karabec, 23, is possible after his season-long loan at Lyon ended in mid-June. OL declined a 3.5 million euro option after 34 appearances, three goals and three assists. His involvement remains to be seen.

Sparta’s pedigree features European Cup quarter-finals in 1965-66, 1968 and 1985, plus a Cup Winners’ Cup semi in 1973, and a Europa League quarter-final in 2016 against Villarreal. Against French clubs they have only two wins in 15 meetings, over Marseille in 1991 and Toulouse in 2007.

Lyon are their most frequent French opponents, winning five and drawing one of six, including 4-3 and 3-0 victories in 2021. Even so, Paulo Fonseca’s side must watch captain Lukas Haraslin, who produced 12 goals and five assists in 25 league games, and Jan Kuchta, who recorded 10 and six in 25.

Source: L'Équipe