Ol sparta prague live coverage: how to watch third qualifying round first leg

Olympique Lyonnais takes to the road Tuesday evening to face Sparta Prague in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League’s third qualifying round. The clash marks the official kickoff of France’s top-flight clubs in the 2026-2027 European campaign. Here’s everything you need to know about tuning in to the action.

The Czech side, runners-up in their domestic league last season and just four points adrift of Slavia Prague, reached the group stage in 2024 before advancing all the way to the UEFA Europa Conference League round of 16 this year. Should either team fall short, they’ll drop into next season’s UEFA Europa League. Sparta Prague, fresh off a win and a loss to start their league slate, has struggled historically at this stage, with four eliminations in their last five attempts. Meanwhile, Lyon holds a commanding head-to-head record against Czech opponents: five wins and one draw across three prior meetings—including dominant victories in 2005 (5-0 in Lyon after a 1-2 loss in Prague), 2012 (2-1 in Lyon, 1-1 in Prague), and 2021 (3-0 in Lyon following a 3-4 defeat in Prague).

The upcoming tie follows the same pattern—first leg in Prague, return leg in France—though the stakes are higher this time as it’s a knockout duel, even if away goals no longer apply. Overall, Sparta Prague’s record against French clubs is dismal: two wins, three draws, and eleven losses. Conversely, Olympique Lyonnais boasts an impressive resume with eight victories, two draws, and only two defeats against Czech adversaries. New star signing Loïs Openda, who joined from Juventus on a paid loan, has already netted seven goals in the Champions League and will spearhead Lyon’s charge toward the playoff round against Fenerbahçe or Sturm Graz.

Where to watch the match live?

The highly anticipated first leg unfolds Tuesday, August 4, at 8:00 PM local time inside the ePET ARENA. Fans can catch live commentary and full match coverage on sports.orange.fr, while the game will also air on Canal+.