Lyon beat Crystal Palace 3-2 at Groupama Stadium on Thursday night, spoiling Pierre Sage’s return to the club he once managed as the Eagles fell short in their first Europa League away trip of the season.
Crystal Palace trailed 2-0 at the break, clawed it back twice after half-time, and left France with nothing after a late barrage failed to force an equaliser.
First half runs away from Palace
Sage named three changes from the Premier League win over Nottingham Forest, giving Ismaïla Sarr his first start of the season and restoring Óscar Mingueza and Axel Disasi.
Lyon needed only eight minutes. An early corner ricocheted off Jaydee Canvot in the six-yard box, and captain Corentin Tolisso stabbed the loose ball home from close range.
Palace contained most of what followed, with Walter Benítez punching clear and Canvot blocking Nuamah after Keito Nakamura squared. The hosts still found a second before the break. A threaded move freed Nakamura down the left, and Ernest Nuamah poked in at the near post in first-half stoppage time.
Palace hit back, Lyon answer
The visitors came out sharper. A short-corner routine worked perfectly: Yéremy Pino took it short, the ball came back through Tyrick Mitchell and Adam Wharton, and Pino crashed a finish past Dominik Greif in the 50th minute.
Momentum stayed with Palace. Jørgen Strand Larsen headed over, Sarr flashed a ball across goal, and Daichi Kamada, on as a substitute, had a penalty appeal waved away after bursting into the box.
Lyon restored the two-goal cushion in the 75th minute. Zachary Athekame crossed from the right, Nakamura flicked on, and Pavel Sulc diverted the ball in from close range in front of Benítez.
Kamada answered six minutes later, lashing home after Anan Khalaili’s cross was only half-cleared. Chris Richards then met a late Wharton corner with a diving header, only for Greif to claw it away. Lyon held on for the three points.
