Lyon beat Crystal Palace 3-2 at the Groupama Stadium on Thursday night to keep a perfect record in the Europa League league phase. Corentin Tolisso, Ernest Nuamah and Pavel Sulc scored for the French side, while Yeremy Pino and Daichi Kamada replied for Palace, who fought back after the break but could not find an equaliser. It was a losing return to Lyon for Palace head coach Pierre Sage.
The result leaves Lyon on maximum points after two matches and Palace on three, with plenty still to play for in the league phase. Here is how the Lyon vs Crystal Palace clash played out and what it means for both clubs.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace: Key Facts
- Competition: UEFA Europa League, league phase, Matchday 2
- Date: Thursday 15 October 2026
- Venue: Groupama Stadium, Lyon
- Final score: Lyon 3-2 Crystal Palace
- Lyon scorers: Corentin Tolisso (8), Ernest Nuamah (45+2), Pavel Sulc (second half)
- Palace scorers: Yeremy Pino (50), Daichi Kamada (81)
- Europa League points: Lyon 6, Crystal Palace 3
How the Match Unfolded
Tolisso sets the tone early
Lyon started on the front foot and were ahead inside eight minutes. Nuamah swung in a corner, the ball dropped loose in the Palace box and Tolisso reacted fastest to finish. It was exactly the kind of start the home crowd wanted.
Palace tried to settle into the game, and their best first-half moment came when Ismaila Sarr headed narrowly over the bar. For the most part, though, Lyon carried the greater threat. They doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time when Keito Nakamura teed up Nuamah, who finished to send the hosts in 2-0 up.
Palace come out fighting
Whatever Sage said at half-time worked. Palace were far sharper after the restart and pulled a goal back five minutes into the second half. A short corner routine ended with Adam Wharton finding Pino, and the Spaniard finished neatly to make it 2-1.
For a spell the visitors were clearly the better side. Jorgen Strand Larsen had two good headed chances but could not keep either on target, and Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif made a fine close-range stop to deny Kamada. It felt like an equaliser was coming.
Sulc punishes the misses
Instead, Lyon struck again. With around a quarter of an hour left, Nakamura’s effort was diverted in by Pavel Sulc to restore the two-goal cushion. Palace refused to give up. Kamada, who had come off the bench in the second half, made it 3-2 on 81 minutes and the Eagles threw bodies forward. Greif had the final say, though, saving a late Chris Richards header to protect the win.
Talking Points From Lyon vs Crystal Palace
Finishing was the difference
This was an evenly matched contest for long spells, and Palace arguably had more of the territory, especially after the break. The gap between the sides was in the penalty area. Lyon took their big chances, while Palace wasted several, with Strand Larsen’s two missed headers the most costly. At this level, that is usually decisive.
Nakamura and Pino shine
Keito Nakamura was Lyon’s most influential player, creating the second goal and playing a big part in the third. For Palace, Pino was the standout. He scored, kept running at defenders and was the visitors’ most dangerous outlet throughout the evening.
A night full of history
There was plenty of extra edge to this fixture. Sage coached Lyon from November 2023 to January 2025 before taking over in south London, so a return to the Groupama Stadium was always going to be emotional. The two clubs are also linked by the multi-club ownership dispute that saw Palace removed from the Europa League in 2025. Thursday night was a chance to settle the matter on the pitch, and Lyon came out on top.
What It Means in the Europa League Table
Lyon have now won both of their league phase games, following up their 2-1 win at Anderlecht on Matchday 1 with this victory. That puts them in a strong position to push for a top-eight finish and a direct route into the last 16.
Palace have three points after their emphatic 4-0 home win over Lech Poznan in the opening round. This defeat also ended a three-match unbeaten run in all competitions, but with six league phase games still to come, there is no reason for panic. You can follow every fixture and result on the official UEFA Europa League website.
What Is Next for Lyon and Crystal Palace?
Palace switch straight back to Premier League action with an M23 derby away to Brighton on Sunday 18 October, kick-off 4:00pm EAT. Sage will hope his side can carry their second-half energy into that game, as well as their sharper finishing. Check our Brighton vs Crystal Palace prediction before you place a bet.
Lyon return to Ligue 1 at home to Nice on Sunday. Our Lyon vs Nice prediction has the numbers, and you can look back at how we called Thursday’s game in our Lyon vs Crystal Palace preview.
Betting Takeaways
Both teams scored here, and Palace showed they can trouble good sides even when things go against them early. Lyon, meanwhile, look dangerous from set pieces, with their opener coming from a corner. Keep those trends in mind when you look at both clubs’ weekend fixtures, but always compare the latest team news and odds before you commit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score in Lyon vs Crystal Palace?
Lyon beat Crystal Palace 3-2 in the Europa League on Thursday 15 October 2026 at the Groupama Stadium.
Who scored for Crystal Palace against Lyon?
Yeremy Pino and Daichi Kamada scored for Palace. Lyon’s goals came from Corentin Tolisso, Ernest Nuamah and Pavel Sulc.
Did Pierre Sage use to manage Lyon?
Yes. Pierre Sage was Lyon’s head coach from November 2023 to January 2025 before he joined Crystal Palace.
When do Crystal Palace play next?
Palace visit Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday 18 October 2026, with kick-off at 4:00pm EAT.
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