Sparta Prague set to battle Lyon without captain in Champions League qualifier return
Haraslin, who spent five seasons with the Czech club, completed his move to Al-Fateh in Saudi Arabia shortly after the first leg. The Saudi Pro League side, currently 11th, agreed to a fee reported to be around €5 million. His departure follows that of forward Jan Kuchta, who left for Legia Warsaw earlier this season.
With Haraslin out, Danish manager Brian Priske faces the challenge of reshaping his squad before the high-stakes encounter at Groupama Stadium. Josimar Alcocer, who impressed in the first leg, is expected to step in as the new captain. The Sparta Prague side is likely to line up unchanged from their victory over Lyon, aiming to build on their strong start.
« We have a real opportunity to qualify if we replicate our first-leg performance, » Priske stated. « Lyon came here for their first competitive match of the season—it’s never easy. They haven’t played since then, which is a small advantage for us. I hope we maintain consistency, especially in midfield. »