Sparta Prague and Lyon will aim to make a crucial advancement toward the Champions League playoffs as they kick off their third-round matchup at Letna Stadium on Tuesday. Both squads received automatic passes for the initial two qualifying rounds and are now merely four matches away from earning a spot in next season's prestigious European tournament. Sparta Prague enjoyed seven Champions League appearances between 1997-98 and 2005-06 but faced an 18-year absence from the competition before reappearing in the 2024-25 season, where they finished the League Phase with only four points from eight matches. Last season, Brian Priske's team competed in the Conference League after finishing second in the Czech First League, just behind city rivals Slavia Prague. They now have the opportunity to secure their second Champions League appearance in three years. Following a 3-1 loss to Zbrojovka Brno in their league opener on July 25, the Maroons rebounded with a 3-1 victory over Zlin on Friday, a result that has likely boosted their confidence ahead of the continental showdown. However, Sparta's historical results against Lyon are concerning; they have not won any of their six previous encounters, with five losses, including both matches in the 2021-22 Europa League group stage. On the positive side, the hosts will rely on their impressive home form, having gone unbeaten in their last six competitive matches at home (W5, D1), scoring 12 goals while conceding only three. Lyon, meanwhile, found themselves in third place in Ligue 1 as they approached the final matchday last season but slipped to fourth after losing their last two games, which led them to the qualifiers instead of securing an automatic Champions League spot. Paulo Fonseca's side has not participated in the Champions League since being eliminated by eventual champions Bayern Munich in 2020, and they are eager to return...