Crystal Palace Fall to Lyon After Tough First Half in Europa League Debut

Palace's Europa League Away Debut Ends in Defeat

Crystal Palace experienced a tough introduction to away games in the UEFA Europa League, falling 3-2 to Lyon at the Groupama Stadium. Early strikes from Corentin Tolisso and Ernest Nuamah gave the French side control, while the Eagles' spirited second-half effort fell just short despite strong support from around 3,000 travelling fans.

Match Summary

• First half: Lyon took an early lead with goals from Tolisso and Nuamah.
• Second half: Yeremy Pino scored shortly after the break to reduce the deficit.
• Pavel Sulc extended Lyon's lead again with a clever backheel finish.
• Daichi Kamada netted late to bring Palace closer, but no equaliser came.

Pierre Sage Reflects on a Difficult Return

Manager Pierre Sage, facing his former club, admitted his team’s slow start and tactical issues cost them dearly. He described the first half as far below their usual standards but acknowledged improvement after halftime gave them hope. Despite that, conceding the third goal made the challenge harder.

"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," Sage said. "It's disappointing because I can’t find satisfaction from returning home or seeing familiar faces when the result isn’t there."

Axel Disasi Calls for Focus After Strong Second Half

Defender Axel Disasi shared the frustration, highlighting the poor start but praised the team’s second-half intensity. He pointed out how they pressed high, recovered the ball in dangerous areas, and created chances to come back into the game.

"We didn’t start the game well, but I think we responded well in the second half. We managed to pull it back to 3-2 and had opportunities towards the end, so it’s frustrating not to have got something," Disasi said. "We need to focus on our second-half performance. We showed much more intent and personality."

Looking Ahead: Domestic and European Challenges

Following this defeat, Crystal Palace will turn their attention back to the Premier League. On Sunday, they face local rivals Brighton hoping to bounce back from their European disappointment.

The Eagles then return to Europe next Thursday to face Turkish giants Besiktas in another demanding away match.

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