Why Lyon Are Favourites for the Match
The bookmakers see Lyon as clear favourites: a home win is priced at 1.50, while a Sparta Prague win is available at 5.40 and the draw at 4.30. This advantage for the French club is explained by several key factors.
Home advantage. Lyon won three of their final four matches at the Olympique Park last season, losing only to a strong Lens side (0:4).
Attacking potential. Last season, under Paulo Fonseca, Lyon scored in 8 of 10 European matches, while in pre-season they hit 15 goals across six friendlies.
Experience. Lyon regularly play in European competition, while Sparta Prague reached the Champions League group stage in 2024 and went out in the first round of the Conference League knockout play-offs last season.
Need for victory. Lyon have to win at home to go through. That creates extra motivation, which in high-pressure matches often outweighs the opposition's quality.
Sparta Prague's away problems. The Czech club have won only twice in their last eight official away matches.
Form and Line-up Lyon
Lyon go into the second leg after a defeat in Prague (1:2), where they produced a bright first half and went in ahead at the break, but lost control of the game in the second half and conceded the decisive goals in the space of six minutes. In pre-season matches, Lyon won four of six games, scoring 15 goals but also conceding 12, including four against Betis and three against St Gallen (6:3).
Key numbers for Lyon:
In 8 of their last 10 matches, the Weavers have landed over 2.5 goals.
In 6 of Lyon's previous 7 matches, there were under 4.5 yellow cards.
In 5 of their previous 7 games, the French side scored every time.
Probable Lyon line-up (3-4-3): Dominik Greif — Clinton Mata, Tanner Tessmann, Ruben Kluivert — Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Tyler Morton, Mathys Nene, Mohamady Ouedraogo — Abner Vinicius, Lois Openda, Corentin Tolisso.
Absentees: Pavel Sulc, Mads Bidstrup, Khalis Merah (all injured).
Form and Line-up Sparta Prague
Sparta Prague go into the second leg in good spirits after a comeback win over Lyon (2:1). In the first match, the Czech club left the more complete impression, especially in attack: two goals ruled out for offside, several excellent chances and, ultimately, a deserved victory. However, Sparta Prague have problems away from home — in their previous eight away fixtures, the Czechs won only twice, and they recently lost in the league to newly promoted Zbrojovka Brno (1:3).
Key numbers for Sparta Prague:
Sparta Prague have conceded in 5 consecutive matches.
In 7 of the Czechs' last 8 matches, over 2.5 goals landed.
In 5 of the Prague side's previous 6 games, there were over 10.5 corners.
Probable Sparta Prague line-up (4-2-3-1): Jakub Surovcik — Martin Suchomel, Adam Sevinsky, Asger Sorensen, Matej Rynes — Roman Macek, Andy Irving — John Mercado, Adam Karabec, Josimar Alcocer — Jonathan Braut Brunes.
Absentees: Jakub Martinec, Roman Macek, Sivert Mannsverk, Emmanuel Uchenna, Patrik Vydra, Peter Jensen, Ondrej Penska, Magnus Andersen (all injured).
