Sparta Prague to field weakened squad against Lyon in Champions League return
With Lukas Haraslin’s transfer to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Fateh confirmed, Sparta Prague will face Olympique Lyonnais without their influential captain in the Champions League return leg.
After five seasons at Sparta Prague, captain Lukas Haraslin completed a surprise move to Al-Fateh in the Saudi Pro League just days after the first leg victory over Lyon. The Czech side received approximately €5 million for the 26-year-old winger, marking their second major departure this summer following Jan Kuchta’s transfer to Legia Warsaw.
The loss of Haraslin, who entered the Lyon clash as a late substitute, forces Danish manager Brian Priske into a tactical reshuffle. With seven new recruits in the squad and a disappointing league defeat to Mladá Boleslav last weekend, the coach must find solutions on the pitch. Defender Josimar Alcocer impressed in the first leg and is expected to retain his starting spot at Groupama Stadium, suggesting Sparta will line up with minimal changes to their initial eleven.
«We have a real chance to progress if we replicate our first-leg performance. Lyon arrived to face a team in mid-season mode, and their recent inactivity gives us an edge. Consistency will be key, particularly in the midfield battle,» Priske emphasized ahead of the high-stakes encounter.
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