Crystal Palace were defeated 3-2 by Lyon in a Europa League group stage match on Thursday, with former Palace manager Pierre Sage on the sidelines for the French side. Sage, who was replaced by Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park two years ago and who retains a residence in London, faced his former club in his return to the city. Despite Palace’s recent domestic success under Glasner, including a victory over Nottingham Forest, Lyon took advantage of a poor first-half performance from the English side.
The match’s context carried notable backstory. Last season, Palace were relegated from the Europa League to the Conference League due to a breach of UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations. This situation arose because John Textor, who held a stake in Palace, was also the majority owner of Lyon, leading UEFA to exclude Palace from the higher-tier competition. Palace went on to win the Conference League, earning a spot back in the Europa League this season.
In the match, Lyon dominated the opening 45 minutes. Palace fell behind in the eighth minute following a corner kick crowded in the six-yard box, where the ball deflected off Palace’s Jaydee Canvot and was quickly finished by Lyon captain Corentin Tolisso. Later, Keito Nakamura set up teammate Ernest Nuamah, who doubled Lyon’s lead just before halftime by outpacing Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell.
Palace responded more positively after the interval, scoring within three minutes through Yérémy Pino, who capitalized on a well-executed short-corner move assisted by Adam Wharton. Despite Palace’s increased effort, Lyon regained control in the 76th minute when Pavel Sulc redirected a Nakamura shot with a backheel to restore a two-goal lead. Daichi Kamada, coming off the bench, reduced the deficit nine minutes from time by converting a loose ball close to goal, but Palace were unable to find a late equalizer.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner expressed frustration over the team’s first-half display, stating that they were well below their usual standards and that their second-half performance merited at least a draw, though victory would have been unlikely given their uneven play. Lyon managed to hold on despite some pressure in the closing stages.
The match further illustrated the ongoing challenges and rivalry between Palace and Lyon, shaped not only by footballing encounters but also by their linked ownership backgrounds and UEFA regulations. For Lyon and Sage, the win marked a successful home return, while Palace will look to regroup ahead of their remaining Europa League fixtures.