The Gones, who suffered their first defeat of pre-season against Slavia Prague (0-2) on Saturday in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where they began a week-long training camp, will face either the Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, Sparta Prague from the Czech Republic, Dutch outfit NEC Nijmegen, or the victor of the Austria versus Scotland clash between Sturm Graz and Heart of Midlothian. The first leg is scheduled for August 4 or 5, with the return match on August 11. As top seeds, Lyon boasts the highest UEFA coefficient (65.750) among the potential opponents in this qualifying path, a ranking that could pave the way for four matches towards the UEFA Champions League group stage, including a playoff round on August 18-19 and 25-26 if they progress.
A challenging path for Lyon in recent years
This qualifying route has proven particularly tough for Ligue 1 clubs over the past 13 seasons, with only two teams emerging victorious: Monaco in the summer of 2016 and Lille in 2024. Lyon themselves fell short in August 2013, losing their playoff tie against Real Sociedad, featuring Antoine Griezmann, with a 0-2 aggregate score.
Union Saint-Gilloise: Belgium’s strongest contender
One of the most daunting potential opponents could come from Belgium. Union Saint-Gilloise, already qualified for this third round with a UEFA coefficient of 48.000, is the highest-ranked among the five possible adversaries. The Brussels-based side, crowned Belgian champions in 2025 and cup winners in 2026, narrowly missed out on the UEFA Champions League group stage last season after finishing as runners-up to Club Brugge. They reached the UEFA Europa Conference League knockout stages, falling just short of the round of 16 due to goal difference, and secured nine points in the group stage.
The Union Saint-Gilloise squad, known for its defensive 5-3-2 formation, has remained largely stable this summer, aside from the anticipated departure of tall Dutch goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen (2.04 m) and winger Anan Khalaili, who is currently resting after a collapsed transfer to Inter Milan due to unsatisfactory cardiac tests. The Belgian side, which has been in pre-season since June 24, has played three friendly matches, winning against Romanian side S. Bucharest (4-0 on July 7) and Danish team Aarhus (2-1), before suffering a setback against PSV Eindhoven (3-3 after 75 minutes, followed by a 0-4 loss). Their next fixtures include a closed-door friendly against Lille on Saturday, ahead of the Belgian Super Cup against Club Brugge on July 31.
Sparta Prague and NEC Nijmegen: tough challenges ahead
Lyon may also face Sparta Prague, the Czech Republic’s second-ranked team according to UEFA coefficients (38.250). The Rhône-Alpes side struggled against Slavia Prague last Saturday, with Paulo Fonseca describing the Czech outfit as an aggressive team employing intense man-marking, making it difficult for Lyon to build attacks due to the high number of fouls committed. Alternatively, the Gones could confront NEC Nijmegen, the Dutch side ranked third in their domestic league, with a coefficient of 13.585.
Finally, Lyon could be drawn against the winner of the Austria versus Scotland tie between Sturm Graz (coefficient 26.000) and Heart of Midlothian (2025-26 Scottish Premiership runners-up). The first leg takes place in Austria tomorrow, with the return in Scotland on July 28. Lyon, missing Malick Fofana (ankle) and Moussa Niakhaté (suspended), has conceded eight goals in four pre-season matches. Defensive improvements will be crucial if they face the Dutch side NEC Nijmegen.
