Sparta beat Lyon in Champions League qualifying, coach comes under fire in France

Sparta Prague defeated France's Lyon 2:1 in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round. The match was played at Letná, and despite an own goal by Martin Suchomel, the Czech side turned the game around in the second half, scoring twice in six minutes through Matěj Ryneš and John Mercado.

Sparta survived a penalty from their opponents, but were clearly the better side on the day — a view shared by both Czech pundits and French media. Former Czech league player Roman Polom noted: "The team's setup was a pleasant surprise. Very bold, very confident." Ex-Sparta player David Pavelka, who was commentating on the match for Prima Sport at the stadium, added that if the team keeps up this kind of performance, the criticism directed at them will die down and the autumn will turn out to be an exciting one.

Fans also praised the players' fighting spirit. One supporter on social media platform X called the match Sparta's best performance since coach Priske's return.

Scathing criticism in France

The reaction to the defeat in France was far harsher. L'Équipe and other French outlets noted that Olympique Lyonnais played too cautiously and "academically," lacking the necessary aggression. Genuine concerns are now being raised ahead of the second leg.

"Too many missed chances, a lack of aggression and cohesion in the play. In a week's time, Lyon will need to show completely different football if they want any hope of advancing," wrote the club-focused account Ferveur Lyonnaise on X.

Coach Paulo Fonseca also came under a barrage of criticism, with journalists faulting him both for an overly cautious lineup and for failing to respond to Sparta's growing pressure and intensity. The Portuguese manager himself admitted: "Perhaps one could say we might have chosen a better strategy."

Some fans are calling for the coach's immediate dismissal. "I don't like drawing conclusions after just one match, but this is an exception — Fonseca needs to go right now! The preparation, the lineup, the substitutions, players misplaced out of position... and this against a team as weak as Sparta. This has to stop, it's a genuinely bad start," one furious French fan of the club wrote.

French journalists point out that in the return leg, Lyon will face enormous pressure — an exit from the competition would be a serious blow both to the club's finances and to its sporting ambitions for the upcoming season.

Around Prague, based on reporting by denik.cz