Following his transfer to Saudi Arabian side Al-Fateh, captain Lukas Haraslin will miss Sparta Prague’s crucial Champions League return leg against Olympique Lyonnais. The Czech club, fresh from a 2-1 victory in the first leg, is determined to build on that performance and secure a historic qualification.
After five seasons in Prague, Lukas Haraslin departed the club immediately after the first leg triumph over OL (2-1), arriving as a late substitute in the 84th minute. His move to Al-Fateh, Saudi Pro League’s 11th-placed team, reportedly secured Sparta Prague a transfer fee of around €5 million. This follows the earlier exit of Jan Kuchta to Legia Warsaw in Poland.
With Haraslin’s absence, coach Brian Priske faces the challenge of reshaping his squad. Having suffered a 0-2 league defeat at Mladá Boleslav over the weekend with a heavily rotated lineup, Priske now turns his attention to the Groupama Stadium clash. Midfielder Josimar Alcocer, who impressed in the first leg, is expected to step into the captain’s role and start the match.
«We have a real opportunity to qualify if we replicate our first-leg performance,» Priske stated. «Lyon came to play their first match of the season on our turf. That’s never easy. They haven’t played since then, which is a small advantage. I hope we remain consistent, especially in midfield.»
