Lyon host Crystal Palace as Pierre Sage returns to former club in Europa League

Pierre Sage returns to France and his former club when Crystal Palace visit Olympique Lyonnais in the Europa League on Thursday, with both sides aiming to make it two wins from two in the league phase.

Lyon opened their campaign with a 2-1 victory away to Anderlecht last month, scoring twice during a dominant first half before surviving sustained pressure after the break. Paulo Fonseca’s side then followed a 4-0 home win over Rennes with a 2-1 defeat at Lens, ending a five-match unbeaten start in Ligue 1.

The fourth-placed hosts are three points behind unbeaten leaders Monaco and will seek to extend an impressive home record in the Europa League. Lyon have gone 12 group-stage or league-phase matches without defeat at home, winning seven and drawing five, with their last loss coming in December 2018.

They are also bidding to win six consecutive group-stage or league-phase matches in Europe’s second club competition for the first time. However, Lyon have won only eight of their previous 27 meetings with English clubs, drawing 10 and losing nine. Their record against London opposition is one win, three draws and four defeats, with that victory coming against Tottenham in the first leg of a 1967-68 Cup Winners’ Cup tie.

Palace finding form under Sage

Sage’s first months at Selhurst Park were difficult, but Crystal Palace have won four and drawn one of their past six matches in all competitions.

They recovered from a poor start against Nottingham Forest on Sunday, when Oliver Glasner’s side took an early lead and dominated the first half. Palace scored twice shortly before the interval before Yeremy Pino added a third after the restart to complete a 3-1 comeback.

The Eagles began their first Europa League campaign with a 4-0 win over Lech Poznan before the international break. The Conference League holders have lost just one of their past 12 European matches, winning eight and drawing three, although that defeat came on their last trip to France, a 2-1 loss at Strasbourg in the league phase last November.

Palace have won only one of their past eight away games in all competitions, drawing two and losing five. Sage, who managed Lyon from November 2023 to January 2025, recorded one win, one draw and one defeat against them while in charge of Lens last season.

Lyon will be without Lois Openda for several weeks after a fractured fibula. Moussa Niakhate and Mohamed Ouedraogo are also injured. Pavel Sulc could operate as a false nine, with Keito Nakamura, Ernest Nuamah and either Kail Boudache or Corentin Tolisso completing the attack.

Dean Henderson, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Chadi Riad are unavailable for Palace, while Axel Disasi returns from suspension. Ismaila Sarr is fit after uncertainty over his future, but Daichi Kamada, Pino and Jørgen Strand Larsen could retain their places.

The recommended bets are both teams to score and more than 2.5 goals at 1.71, Nuamah to be decisive at 2.40 and Strand Larsen to be decisive at 2.20. A closely fought draw with goals at both ends is predicted.

Probable teams

Lyon: Greif; Athekame, Mata, Kluivert, Vinicius; Bidstrup, Morton; Nuamah, Tolisso, Nakamura; Sulc.

Crystal Palace: Benitez; Ahanor, Disasi, Richards; Khalaili, Timber, Wharton, Mitchell; Kamada, Pino; Strand Larsen.