Olympique Lyonnais takes to the road this Tuesday evening for the first leg of the third qualifying round in the UEFA Champions League, facing Sparta Prague. Here’s how to tune in to watch the action live.
Sparta Prague, runners-up in the Czech First League last season, have already made their mark in European competitions. They reached the group stage in 2024 and advanced to the Europa Conference League quarterfinals this year. Should either team fall short in this tie, the loser will drop into the Europa League for the 2026-2027 campaign. The Czech side kicked off their domestic league with a win and a loss, but their track record in early qualifying rounds is far from stellar—losing four of their last five attempts at this stage. Historical clashes between Lyon and Sparta Prague overwhelmingly favor the French side, with five wins and one draw in their encounters: Champions League group stage in 2005 (1-2 in Prague, 5-0 in Lyon), Europa League group stage in 2012 (2-1 in Lyon, 1-1 in Prague), and Europa Conference League qualifiers in 2021 (3-4 in Prague, 3-0 in Lyon).
Traditionally, the first leg has been hosted in the Czech Republic with the return match in France, though the current format no longer grants double-weighting to away goals in case of a draw. Sparta Prague’s overall record against French clubs is dismal—two wins, three draws, and eleven losses—while Olympique Lyonnais boasts an impressive eight victories, two draws, and just two defeats against Czech opponents. Loïs Openda, Lyon’s headline signing from Juventus on a paid loan, has already netted seven goals in the Champions League this season and will be tasked with guiding his new team past this hurdle, potentially into the final playoff round against Fenerbahçe or Sturm Graz.
Where to watch Sparta Prague vs Lyon live
The match, set to take place at the epet ARENA, is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4 at 8:00 PM. You can catch the live broadcast with commentary on sports.orange.fr, while Canal+ will also televise the encounter.
