Lyon 3-2 Crystal Palace: Sage makes unhappy return to former club

Pierre Sage endured an unhappy return to Lyon as his Crystal Palace side were beaten 3-2 in the Europa League.

Sage’s men claimed a confidence-boosting 3-1 Premier League win over Nottingham Forest last Sunday, but they paid the price for a slow start against the team he coached from 2023 to 2025.

Corentin Tolisso gave Lyon an early lead that was doubled by Ernest Nuamah, before Yeremy Pino halved the deficit.

Pavel Sulc restored Lyon’s two-goal advantage, but Daichi Kamada’s strike set up a nervy finish for the Ligue 1 side, who clung on to make it two wins from two to start the league phase.

Palace were punished for failing to defend a corner as Tolisso hooked home at the near post after Nuamah’s delivery bounced favourably for him.

Chances were few and far between thereafter, but Nuamah made the most of the one that came his way in first-half stoppage time, turning in from Keito Nakamura’s left-wing cross at the end of a fine one-touch move from the hosts.

Palace needed fewer than five second-half minutes to give themselves hope, Pino lashing in followed a well-worked corner routine.

Sage’s men were grateful to Walter Benitez for keeping the deficit at one as he tipped over Abner Vinicius’s header, before Palace saw penalty claims waved away after Daichi Kamada went down in the box.

Kamada was then denied by Lyon goalkeeper Dominik Greif from point-blank range amid a goalmouth scramble, and Palace were made to pay for not finding a leveller as Sulc cleverly flicked home from Nakamura’s scuffed effort.

But Kamada finally got his goal when he slotted in following good work down the right from Anan Khalaili.

Lyon rarely looked comfortable protecting their slender lead, and it took a brilliant save from Greif to preserve the victory for Paulo Fonseca’s side as he turned over from Chris Richards’ late header.

The UEFA Europa League Table

Upcoming fixtures for Lyon and Crystal Palace

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