Europa League Knockout Round Preview: Sigma Olomouc Hosts FC Lausanne-Sport

OLOMOUC, Czech Republic (Interstat) — A spot in the Europa League’s round of 16 will be on the line Thursday when Sigma Olomouc hosts FC Lausanne-Sport in the first leg of their knockout round playoff.

The match at Andrův stadion pits a Czech side seeking consistency against a Swiss club riding a wave of European confidence.

Sigma Olomouc enters the fixture following a lengthy winter break from competitive play. Its last match was a 2-1 home defeat to Poland’s Lech Poznan in UEFA Europa Conference League group stage action on Dec. 18. That result extended a concerning pattern for the Czech club, which has managed just one win in its last five matches across all competitions (1-3-1). Its form at home in Europe has been mixed, with a victory over Slovenia’s Celje and a draw with Poland’s Rakow Czestochowa offset by losses to Lech Poznan and Sweden’s Malmo.

FC Lausanne-Sport, meanwhile, carries positive momentum from its group stage campaign. The Swiss side is unbeaten in its last six European outings (3-3-0), a streak highlighted by a 1-0 home victory over Italy’s Fiorentina on Dec. 18. Lausanne’s most recent result was a 1-1 domestic draw with Grasshopper on Jan. 24. The team has shown a potent attack in Europe, including 5-0 and 5-1 domestic victories over Young Boys and Basel, respectively, in the fall, though its away form has been less decisive with two draws and a loss in its last three trips.

The matchup presents a tactical contrast. Olomouc will look to leverage its home pitch after a long layoff, while Lausanne aims to translate its resilient European performances into a crucial away result.

According to the Interstat game simulator, the contest is projected to end in a 1-1 draw.

The return leg is scheduled for Feb. 26 at Stade de la Tuilière in Lausanne, Switzerland. The aggregate winner will advance to the Europa League’s round of 16.