Champions League : Lyon’s first hurdle on the road to the league phase
Olympique Lyonnais have finally kicked off their European campaign. The draw for the third qualifying round of the Champions League has paired the Rhone club with Sparta Prague as their first test. It is a tie that could move Paulo Fonseca’s side a step closer to the lucrative league phase, even if there is still a long way to go before they are back among Europe’s big boys for good.
Protected by their seeding, Lyon avoided a few more awkward-looking names such as Bodo/Glimt and Olympiakos. Sparta Prague, runners-up in the Czech top flight last season, will still pose a proper examination for a Lyon team that is yet to fully hit its stride after several weeks of summer work.
A trip to Czechia first, then a decisive return at Groupama Stadium
The first leg will be played in Prague on 4 or 5 August, with the return fixed for a week later in Lyon. Getting the second leg at home is no small advantage for Lyon, who will be banking on their European know-how in front of their own fans.
Recent summer outings do, however, call for a bit of caution. Lyon started their build-up well with wins over Macon, Saint-Gall and Servette, but the 0-2 defeat to Slavia Prague was a timely reminder that there are still a few kinks to iron out, especially at the back.
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Qualification would only be the start
Beating Sparta Prague would not be enough to send Lyon into the Champions League. If they get through, Fonseca’s men would still have one final two-legged play-off to negotiate, scheduled for 18-19 and 25-26 August, to book their place in the league phase.
Recent history also shows this is anything but a formality. Since UEFA introduced the current format, only Monaco in 2016 and Lille in 2024 have made it through these preliminary rounds among French clubs. Lyon, meanwhile, still carry the scar of their 2013 exit against Real Sociedad. More than 10 years later, the Rhone club have a chance to write a fresh chapter in their European story.
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