According to Haber Merkezi, French club Lyon dropped a 2-1 defeat against Sparta Prag during the first leg of the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round on August 4, 2026. The match, hosted at epet Arena in Prague, leaves the French side trailing ahead of the return fixture in France scheduled for August 11, 2026.
First-Half Lead Slips Away for Lyon
Lyon opened the scoring in the Czech capital before the break. According to match reports from Haber Merkezi, visiting player Martin Suchomel turned the ball into his own net in the 45th minute, handing Lyon a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
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Sparta Prag Mounts Second-Half Comeback
The Czech hosts responded after the interval. Matej Rynes leveled the score at 1-1 in the 63rd minute, sparking a rapid shift in momentum. Just moments later, Lyon missed a crucial opportunity to retake the lead when Corentin Tolisso failed to convert a penalty kick in the 67th minute, as noted by Haber Merkezi.
Capitalizing on the missed penalty, Sparta Prag secured the win when John Mercado scored in the 69th minute to make it 2-1. Neither side found the net in the remaining minutes, leaving the Czech representatives ahead on aggregate heading into next week’s decisive second leg.
Match Details and Lineups
Both managers deployed competitive squads for the crucial European fixture. According to official team sheets provided by Haber Merkezi, the starting lineups were as follows:
- Sparta Prag: Surovcik, Rynes, Sevinsky, Sörensen, Suchomel, Macek, Irving, Mercado, Karabec, Alcocer, Brunes.
- Lyon: Greif, Ouedraogo, Kluivert, Mata, Maitland-Niles, Tessmann, Morton, De Carvalho, Tolisso, Abner, Openda.
The return leg takes place in France on August 11, 2026, where the winner of this tie will advance to the UEFA Champions League play-off round, a stage that could pit them against Fenerbahçe.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the second leg between Lyon and Sparta Prag?
According to Haber Merkezi, the return match will be played in France on August 11, 2026.
What was the final score of the first leg?
Sparta Prag defeated Lyon 2-1 at epet Arena after overturning a 1-0 halftime deficit.
Who missed a penalty during the match?
Corentin Tolisso missed a penalty kick in the 67th minute.
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