Crystal Palace Fall to Lyon in Europa League Despite Second-Half Rally

Crystal Palace faced a tough defeat, losing 3-2 to Lyon in their first away match in the UEFA Europa League group stage. The encounter at Groupama Stadium saw Palace struggle early, but rally fiercely in the second half, only to come up short against the French side.

Early Goals Set the Tone for Lyon

The hosts took control with quick strikes from Corentin Tolisso and Ernest Nuamah, establishing a two-goal lead before halftime. Palace’s response came after the break when Yeremy Pino narrowed the gap, injecting hope into the match.

Lyon then extended their advantage through Pavel Sulc’s clever backheel finish. Daichi Kamada pulled one back late, creating a tense finale as Palace pushed hard to equalize but could not find the net again despite support from 3,000 travelling fans.

Manager Pierre Sage Reflects on Disappointing Display

"We were nowhere near our usual standards in the first half. We improved considerably after the break and gave ourselves a chance, but conceding that third goal made things difficult," said Sage, returning to his former club.

He added that the result overshadowed any personal satisfaction from revisiting familiar surroundings. "It’s a very disappointing return because we lost. I can’t take satisfaction from coming back home or seeing familiar faces when the result isn’t there."

Axel Disasi Calls for Focus on Second-Half Performance

Defender Axel Disasi acknowledged the poor start but praised the team’s fightback: "We didn’t start the game well, but I think we responded well in the second half. We pressed high, won the ball back in dangerous areas, and created chances."

He expressed frustration at missing points but emphasized building on the second-half intensity. "We managed to pull it back to 3-2 and had opportunities towards the end, so it’s frustrating not to have got something. We need to focus on our second-half performance. We showed much more intent and personality."

Next Steps for Crystal Palace

After earning three points from their first two Europa League games, Palace now turn their attention to the Premier League. On Sunday, they face local rivals Brighton, aiming to recover from this European setback.

The Eagles will return to continental action next Thursday, traveling to Turkey to take on Besiktas, presenting another tough challenge as they look to keep their hopes alive in the group.

• Brighton vs Crystal Palace - Premier League - 18 Oct 2026, 16:00
• Nice vs Lyon - Ligue 1 - 18 Oct 2026, 21:45