The Olympique Lyonnais will learn at noon on Monday the identity of their opponent in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. The draw will pit Lyon against either Union Saint-Gilloise, Sparta Prague, NEC Nijmegen, or the winner of the Sturm Graz-Hearts tie.
Defeated 0-2 by Slavia Prague in their first preparation match on Saturday at the Adidas campus in Herzogenaurach, Germany, where they began their week-long training camp, the Gones are set to face a challenging path. As top seeds, Lyon holds the highest UEFA coefficient (65.750) among the potential opponents in this qualifying route. The objective is clear: navigate four matches—including a two-legged playoff on August 18-19 and 25-26 if they advance—to secure a spot in the Champions League league phase.
A daunting challenge for Ligue 1 clubs in Champions League qualifiers
Historically, only two Ligue 1 teams have successfully progressed through this stage since the current format was introduced by UEFA. Monaco achieved it in the summer of 2016, while Lille triumphed in 2024. Lyon, however, knows the difficulties firsthand; their campaign ended in August 2013 when they lost the playoff against Real Sociedad, led by Antoine Griezmann, with a 0-2 aggregate defeat.
Potential opponents: strengths and weaknesses
Union Saint-Gilloise (Belgium)
With the highest UEFA coefficient (48.000) among the five potential opponents, Union Saint-Gilloise enters the draw as Belgium’s 2025 champions and 2026 cup winners. Despite two prior Champions League eliminations, the Brussels-based side competed in the competition last season, narrowly missing the Round of 16 on goal difference after a 2-3 loss to Olympique de Marseille on December 9.
The team’s defensive structure in a 5-3-2 formation remains largely unchanged, though goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen and winger Anan Khalaili may see reduced roles due to transfer developments. Their preparation includes mixed results: victories over Romanian side S. Bucarest (4-0) and Danish club Aarhus (2-1), followed by a 0-4 defeat to PSV Eindhoven in a shortened match.
Sparta Prague (Czech Republic)
Ranked second in the Czech league with a UEFA coefficient of 38.250, Sparta Prague presents an aggressive challenge. Paulo Fonseca described their approach as physically demanding, with intense individual marking that disrupts attacking play—a lesson learned from Lyon’s 4-3 defeat to Slavia Prague last weekend.
NEC Nijmegen (Netherlands)
With a UEFA coefficient of 13.585, NEC Nijmegen finished third in their domestic league and earned direct qualification. Lyon’s preparation has been rocky, conceding eight goals in four matches, including injuries to key players Malick Fofana and Moussa Niakhaté, who will miss the first leg.
Sturm Graz vs. Hearts (Austria/Scotland)
The winner of the Austria vs. Scotland tie will face Lyon. Austria’s Sturm Graz, 2025 league champions with a 26.000 coefficient, or Scotland’s Hearts, runners-up in the 2025-26 season, await the French side.
