Ryneš scores and assists as Sparta stun Lyon in the Champions League

Sparta Prague pulled off a historic win over French side Lyon in the Champions League, with 25-year-old defender Matěj Ryneš emerging as the hero of the night, scoring a goal and setting up another. After the final whistle, the Letná stands were chanting his name.

The turning point came when Ryneš received a quick pass, beat his marker and unleashed a stunning first-time left-footed volley into the near corner, catching goalkeeper Dominik Greif off guard. The stadium erupted — it was a crucial psychological shift in the match against the French giants.

A goal and an assist that turned the game around

Ryneš wasn't done after his goal. In the 69th minute, he switched roles to playmaker, delivering a precise cross to the far post that Ecuadorian defender Mercado headed home to make it 2:1. Those two moments proved decisive in Sparta's turnaround against Olympique Lyonnais.

For Ryneš, a native of Horní Planá, this was a genuine breakthrough performance. Having gone through a dip in form after a strong 2023/24 season, in which he made 28 appearances for Sparta, he finally looks back to his best. According to Czech media statistics, Ryneš has scored four goals for Sparta in all competitions since August 2024 — all of them in European fixtures, three of which came in the summer qualifying rounds.

Praise from teammates and pundits

Unlike his counterpart on the opposite flank, Martin Suchomel, who had a rough evening capped by a bizarre own goal in the first half, Ryneš was solid and error-free defensively — an area that had previously been considered his weak point. He also lent support to newcomer Josimar Alcocer, who filled in for captain Lukáš Haraslín.

Teammate Adam Karabec praised the defender's performance: "Ryny was brilliant. I'm happy for him because the start of the season was tough for him. He responded in the best possible way and proved that he too can decide matches." Pundits and journalists following the game highlighted both the quality of Ryneš's passing and Sparta's combination play as a whole, pointing to clear gaps in Lyon's defense.

Around Prague, based on reporting by prazsky.denik.cz