Slavia Prague host French side Lens at the Fortuna Arena on Thursday in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League league phase.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 16:00 Brasilia time in Prague, with live streaming coverage available on HBO Max and real-time text coverage provided by CNN Esportes.
Slavia Prague are returning to Europe's top club competition for the second consecutive season. This campaign marks the Czech club's fourth overall participation in the Champions League, following previous campaigns in the 2007/08, 2019/20, and 2025/26 editions.
The Czech hosts earned their qualification for the tournament after a dominant domestic performance in the 2025/26 Czech Championship. Slavia claimed their ninth domestic league title by suffering just one defeat across 30 league matches, eventually finishing eight points clear of city rivals Sparta Prague.
Founded in 1892, Slavia Prague are one of the most successful football clubs in Czechia. Their home ground, the Fortuna Arena in Prague's Eden district, serves as the venue for major domestic fixtures and European ties, while their local derby against Sparta Prague remains the biggest fixture in Czech football.
Lens return to European action
Lens are also preparing for their fourth Champions League campaign. The French side previously competed in the 1998/99, 2002/03, and 2023/24 editions of the tournament, but were eliminated in the group stage on all three previous occasions.
Despite those earlier European exits, Lens enter the new season with strong domestic momentum. The team finished as runners-up in Ligue 1 last season and lifted the French Cup in May following a 3-1 victory against Nice in the final.
The French club added another trophy to their collection in August by winning the French Supercup. Lens defeated Paris Saint-Germain 1-0 in that match, holding on for the victory despite playing with ten men for more than 50 minutes after having a player sent off.
Based in the northern city of Lens in the Pas-de-Calais region, Racing Club de Lens compete in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Their recent silverware and cup triumphs have boosted confidence ahead of their return to European football.
Match details and tournament format
Thursday's encounter forms part of the first round of the 2026/27 UEFA Champions League league phase. Under UEFA's competition structure, 36 European clubs compete in a single league table during the initial phase, with teams fighting for places in the knockout stages.
The game takes place on 10 September 2026 at the Fortuna Arena in Prague, Czechia. Kickoff is scheduled for 16:00 Brasilia time, with streaming available on HBO Max and real-time coverage on CNN Esportes.
