While Ligue 1 clubs are in full recovery and playing a series of friendly matches in preparation for the new Ligue 1 season, Olympique Lyonnais is facing a crucial first meeting. This Tuesday, Paulo Fonseca’s men will face Sparta Prague, for their first leg of the third preliminary round of the Champions League. The opportunity for them to find themselves indirectly linked to a certain Erling Haaland.
No recruitment of the Norwegian international in sight obviously. On the other hand, the Lyonnais will have a member of the Manchester City striker’s family in front of them. Sparta has in its ranks the so-called Jonatan Braut Brunes. Like Erling Haaland, the latter exercises his profession as a footballer as an attacker. Aged twenty-five, he has just been recruited by the Czech club.
Last season, Brunes scored a whopping twenty-six goals in forty-nine matches with the Polish club Rakow, in all competitions. His team is therefore counting on him to thwart the plans and hopes of Olympique Lyonnais who travel to the Czech Republic this evening.
Sparta bet big on Erling Haaland’s cousin
The history of oppositions between Sparta and OL is in any case very largely favorable to the French club. Lyon is the French team that Prague has faced most often. Six confrontations, including five successes for Les Gones as well as one draw. The last time that Prague and Lyon met was in 2021, during a Europa League group stage match. Lyon won both duels (3-4 and 3-0).
It remains to be seen what will happen this time. Cousin of Erling Haaland, Jonatan Braut Brunes will certainly be keen to show his new team that they were right to bet big on him. Purchased for six million euros, the Norwegian is in fact the second biggest transfer in the history of Sparta Prague, just behind Albion Rrahamni who arrived from the Romanian club FC Rapid 1923 during the 2024-2025 season (€6.13 million).
