Olympique Lyonnais makes its European debut in the third qualifying round of the Champions League on Tuesday evening, traveling to face Sparta Prague. This clash marks the start of the French clubs’ campaign in a competition that promises high stakes for the 2026-2027 season. Here’s how to catch all the action live.

The Czech champions-elect, just four points behind Slavia Prague last term, have carved out a reputation for strong European performances. In 2024, they advanced to the group stage, and this year, they pushed all the way to the UEFA Conference League round of 16. Should either team fall short now, they’ll drop into the Europa League for the upcoming season. Sparta Prague, off to a shaky start in their domestic league with a win and a loss, hasn’t fared well in this round historically, bowing out four times in their last five attempts. Yet the head-to-head record between Lyon and Sparta Prague heavily favors the French side: five wins and a draw in six prior meetings, including dominant victories in Champions League group stages (2005) and Europa League group stages (2012), as well as a resounding 3-0 home win in the 2021 Europa Conference League.

Traditionally, the first leg has been played in the Czech Republic with the return in France—except this time, the stakes are even higher as it’s a straight knockout tie, though the away-goals rule no longer applies. Sparta Prague’s overall record against French clubs is notably weak: two wins, three draws, and eleven defeats. In contrast, Lyon has been far more successful, with eight wins, two draws, and just two losses against Czech opponents. All eyes will be on Loïs Openda, the prolific striker freshly arrived from Juventus on a paid loan, who has already netted seven goals in the Champions League this season. His mission? Guide Lyon safely through to the playoff round against Fenerbahçe or Sturm Graz.

Where to watch the Sparta Prague vs Lyon match live

The highly anticipated encounter takes place at the epet ARENA on Tuesday, August 4, at 20:00. Fans can stream the game live with commentary at sports.orange.fr. Alternatively, the match will be broadcast on Canal+.