Openda makes debut as Lyon faces Sparta Prague

Lyon travel to Prague this Tuesday to face Sparta in the first leg of the Champions League third qualifying round (8 p.m.). According to L'Équipe, Paulo Fonseca will deploy Loïs Openda as the main striker in an unfamiliar lineup built to keep things tight defensively.

The standout change is the starting appearance of the Belgian forward on loan from Juventus, who will finally make his competitive debut following his arrival. The defense will be reinforced with Tessmann, while De Carvalho and Abner enter the midfield, additions that signal a shift toward defensive stability.

This tactical move comes after the heavy 4-0 defeat to Betis a week ago, when Fonseca argued his team was very young, especially in attack. The Portuguese coach appears to have prioritized defensive solidity for this first test of the season.