Crystal Palace were beaten 3-2 by Lyon in France in their maiden away fixture in the Europa League. Even though the Eagles produced a far better second-half performance, they were unable to bounce back from a poor first 45 minutes, and the home team did enough to take all three points.
Lyon built a two-goal lead before the interval, but Palace hit back soon after the restart through Yeremy Pino. Pavel Sulc restored the home side’s two-goal advantage, and although Daichi Kamada scored late to give the visitors hope, Lyon hung on for the win.
The outcome leaves Palace with three points from their first two league-phase games in their first season back in Europe’s second-tier competition. They opened their campaign with a convincing 4-0 victory over Polish club Lech Poznan.
Crystal Palace vs Lyon: goals and match highlights
Lyon went ahead after only eight minutes when Corentin Tolisso reacted fastest to a loose ball following a corner from the right. Palace found it difficult to deal with the set piece, allowing the midfielder to finish and put the hosts in front.
The Eagles faced a tougher challenge in first-half stoppage time, when Ernest Nuamah doubled Lyon’s lead. Keito Nakamura delivered a low cross, and Nuamah finished well to leave the visitors 2-0 down at the break.
Palace came out with more attacking purpose after half-time and cut the deficit in the 50th minute. After a short corner routine, Adam Wharton played an excellent first-time pass to Yeremy Pino, who fired into the roof of the net to make it 2-1.
The visitors pushed for an equaliser and created chances to level the score. However, Lyon struck again against the run of play when Pavel Sulc cleverly flicked the ball into the net with a backheel to restore their two-goal cushion.
Daichi Kamada brought Palace back into the contest with a finish from six yards out, making it 3-2. The Eagles kept searching for a late equaliser, but Lyon held firm to claim the victory.
Palace analysis: slow start proves costly for Pierre Sage
The defeat was especially significant for Palace manager Pierre Sage, who was returning to Lyon after managing the Ligue 1 side from November 2023 until January 2025, having previously worked there as a coach.
Around 3,000 Palace supporters travelled to France for a fixture that had stood out when the Europa League draw was made. Despite their team’s improved second-half performance, they left disappointed after watching the Eagles struggle during the opening period.
Palace came close to rescuing a point in the closing stages. Chris Richards met Wharton’s corner with a header in the 90th minute, but Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif produced an important save. Jorgen Strand Larsen also headed over, while Kamada saw another effort saved after coming off the bench.
The Eagles’ first-half struggles ultimately proved decisive. Lyon looked comfortable with their 2-0 lead, while Palace offered little attacking threat before the interval. Although the visitors gained momentum after Pino’s goal and created several chances, Sulc’s strike disrupted their comeback attempt.
Europa League campaign: Palace prepares for Brighton and Besiktas
Palace’s route into the 2026-27 Europa League followed a complicated European journey. Their FA Cup triumph in 2025 should have secured a place in the competition for the 2025-26 season, but the club were instead moved into the Conference League because then co-owner John Textor also held a majority stake in Lyon.
After Textor sold his Palace shareholding and left his leadership role with Lyon that summer, UEFA maintained its decision that Lyon would remain in the Europa League because they had finished higher in their domestic league. The Palace was consequently placed in the third-tier Conference League.
The Eagles went on to win the Conference League, earning their place in the Europa League for the 2026-27 campaign. Their opening 4-0 victory over Lech Poznan gave them a positive start, but the loss in Lyon represents a setback in their attempt to progress through the league phase.
Palace will now turn their attention to Sunday’s match against rivals Brighton before resuming their European campaign next Thursday. Sage’s team will travel to Turkey to face Besiktas, looking to respond after their first away defeat in the competition.