Palace Falters Against Lyon in Europa League Shocker
Crystal Palace failed to capitalize on their first-half momentum as they lost 3‑2 to Pierre Sage’s former club Lyon in a Europa League clash.
Lyon took control early, exploiting gaps in Palace defence to score twice through Corentin Tolisso and Ernest Nuamah, maintaining a comfortable lead before the break. The hosts produced little attacking output themselves, failing to register a goal from the half‑time position and letting their attack go largely uneventful.
At the 50′ mark, Yeremy Pino restored balance with a remarkable finish off a clever cross, cutting Lyon’s advantage to one. The turnaround sparked renewed hope for the Spurs, however, with a decisive chance for Daichi Kamada emerging past Kevin Keita’s wall shortly before the final whistle.
Kamada’s deliberate shot was halted by a well‑timed challenge from Nuamah, prompting a penalty which the referee awarded after VAR cleared the infringement. He converted to narrow Lyon’s lead once again.
While the resurgence lifted spirits, the eventual defeat underscores the difficulty facing Palace since Lyon’s return— a squad sacked following the resignation of John Textor in Ligue 1.
Key moments from Lyon
Goal (8′): Lyon surged ahead as Tolisso slotted his header from close range.
45+2 Goal (6′): Nuamah doubled the tally, finding the back of the net after a precise through ball.
Man‑of‑the‑Match moment (21′): Pino struck a crucial level header from a well‑placed cross, reviving Palace briefly.
Penalty Appeal (68′): Daichi Kamada went down inside the area after being packed by Nuamah, yet the referee dismissed the charge and VAR upheld the decision.
Equaliser (76′): Sulc tipped a powerful strike from distance into the top corner, restarting the count for Lyon.
Comeback attempt (81′): Camara‑related pressure saw Kamada halve the score with less than ten minutes remaining.
What the result means and next fixtures…
The game confirms Lyon’s dominance over Palace and reinforces the club’s struggle to regain European competitiveness. For Crystal Palace, the upcoming encounter against Brighton promises a test of resilience, airing live on Sky Sports on Sunday. Their subsequent European campaign will see a difficult road continuing with a trip to Besiktas, demanding immediate tactical adjustments and renewed determination.
The Eagles will now look to bounce back when they face rivals Brighton, live on Sky Sports, this Sunday before a tough trip to Besiktas in their next European outing.
Sunday 18th October 12:30pm
Kick off 2:00pm
