Lyon - Sparta Prague: Can Sparta hold on to their narrow advantage?
In the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round, Lyon and Sparta Prague will face each other. The match will take place on Tuesday, August 11, kicking off at 21:00 CET, and I am offering a bet on it.
Lyon - Sparta Prague: Match preview
Last season, Lyon managed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. They collected 60 points over 34 rounds and finished one point ahead of fifth place. Now the French side have a chance to reach Europe's premier club competition. However, to do so, they must get past Sparta. The Prague side finished second in the table last season. They collected 76 points from 35 rounds and finished four points behind the leaders. They have already started the new season, playing three matches: two defeats and one win.
In the first meeting between these teams, the Czech side managed to stage a comeback and win. Although Souhmela scored an own goal towards the end of the first half, Sparta did not collapse. They equalised in the 63rd minute, four minutes later Lyon failed to convert a penalty, and in the 69th minute Sparta took the lead. They held on to their narrow advantage and will now travel away with a lead they will do everything in their power to protect.
Match facts and H2H
- Sparta Prague won the first leg 2-1.
- Lyon have lost three of their last four matches.
- In their previous five matches, Sparta Prague have suffered three defeats and recorded two wins.
- In the last five head-to-head meetings between these teams, Lyon have won three times, Sparta once, with one draw.
Probable line-ups
- Lyon: Greif; Kluivert, Tessmann, Mata; Ouedraogo, Carvalho, Morton, Maitland-Niles; Tolisso, Openda, Vinicius
- Sparta Prague: Surovcik; Suchomel, Sevinsky, Sorensen, Rynes; Macek, Irving; Mercado, Karabec, Alcocer; Brunes
Prediction
We are in for a very intriguing match, and I think we will see several goals. I am offering a bet on over 2.5 goals.
