Following their first defeat of the preseason—a 0-2 loss to Slavia Prague on Saturday at Adidas Campus in Herzogenaurach, Germany—the players of Olympique Lyonnais are set to learn their third qualifying round Champions League opponent. The first leg is scheduled for August 4 or 5, with the return match on August 11. As seeded teams, Lyon boasts the highest UEFA coefficient (65.750) in this qualifying path, offering a theoretical route to the group stage via four matches—including a playoff tie on August 18-19 and 25-26 if they advance from the third round.

Third-round Champions League qualifiers: a rare success for Ligue 1 teams

Over the past thirteen seasons, since the current format (third round + playoffs) was introduced by UEFA, only two Ligue 1 teams have successfully navigated this path: Monaco in summer 2016 and Lille in 2024. Lyon themselves fell short in August 2013, losing their playoff against Real Sociedad—then featuring Antoine Griezmann—with a 0-2 aggregate defeat.

Union Saint-Gilloise: the toughest potential opponent

Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, directly qualified for the third round with the highest UEFA coefficient (48,000) among the five potential opponents, could prove the most formidable challenge. Champions of Belgium in 2025 and Cup winners in 2026, runners-up to Club Bruges in the last domestic league, the Brussels-based side reached the Champions League last season. They were eliminated on December 9 after a 2-3 loss to Marseille, narrowly missing the Round of 16 on goal difference (27th place with 9 points).

Their squad, predominantly featuring a stable 5-3-2 defensive formation, has seen minimal changes aside from the imminent departure of tall Dutch goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen (2.04m) and winger Anan Khalaili, who is currently resting after a failed transfer to Inter Milan (€32 million including bonuses, a record for the club) due to unsatisfactory cardiac tests. Union have been in preparation since June 24, playing three friendlies: a 4-0 win over Romanian side S. Bucharest (July 7), a 2-1 victory against Danish side Aarhus (July 13), and a 3-3 draw with Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, followed by a 0-4 loss in extra time. Their next test comes in a closed-door friendly against Lille on July 26, ahead of the Belgian Super Cup against Club Bruges on July 31.

Sparta Prague and NEC Nijmegen: mid-tier challenges

Czech champions Sparta Prague, with a UEFA coefficient of 38.250, represents another stern test. Their aggressive pressing and physical approach could disrupt Lyon’s rhythm, as noted by manager Paulo Fonseca following Saturday’s 4-3 defeat to Slavia Prague: “They are a physically demanding team with tight man-marking, making attacking play extremely difficult as they foul relentlessly to halt our progress.”

NEC Nijmegen, the third-placed team in the Dutch Eredivisie with a coefficient of 13.585, could also pose difficulties. The Dutch side are directly qualified for the third round.

Sturm Graz vs Hearts: the wildcard scenario

Finally, Lyon may face the winner of the second-round clash between Austrian champions Sturm Graz (coefficient 26.000) and Scottish side Heart of Midlothian, runners-up in the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership. The first leg takes place in Austria tomorrow, with the return in Scotland on July 28.

Lyon’s preparations have been marred by defensive frailties, conceding eight goals in four preseason fixtures. With Malick Fofana (ankle) and Moussa Niakhaté (suspended for the first leg) unavailable, correcting these issues will be critical, particularly if they face NEC Nijmegen’s Dutch opposition.