Lyon vs Crystal Palace: Who Will Keep Their Perfect Europa League Start Alive?
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Les Gones have turned Parc Olympique Lyonnais into a formidable fortress
Olympique Lyon enter this tightly contested encounter seeking to bounce back from a disappointing result in Ligue 1 on Friday. A return from the international break saw the team succumb to a 2-1 road defeat. That outcome marked their first league defeat after an impressive five-match unbeaten run.
The French outfit now turn their attention to the UEFA Europa League - League Phase and will hope this platform offers a welcome change of fortunes. Les Gones have already snatched three points with their opening match against Belgian opposition Anderlecht ending in a deserved 2-1 away win.
Paulo Fonseca's men have their sights on a second consecutive win which could either strengthen their position in 11th place in the league phase standings or propel them closer to the coveted top-eight spots, depending on results elsewhere.
Another successful outing here will mark their sixth consecutive win at this stage for the first time in their history.
The Parc Olympique Lyonnais could be key to achieving such a daring feat. Their performance at this venue has been more than stable, as this is where they've remained unbeaten in 12 home games in the competition, recording seven wins and five draws. The results have been recorded from the group stages and qualifying rounds.
Lyon's last home results in the UEFA Europa League
- 10 April 2025 (Quarter-final first leg): Lyon 1-2 Manchester United
- 13 March 2025 (Round of 16 second leg): Lyon 4-0 FCSB
- 30 January 2025 (League Phase): Lyon 1-1 Ludogorets
- 12 December 2024 (League Phase): Lyon 5-3 Eintracht Frankfurt
- 07 November 2024 (League Phase): Lyon 2-2 Hoffenheim
The Eagles have been soaring high in European competition
It has been an unreliable showing from Crystal Palace in the 2026-27 Premier League season, with the South London-based outfit accumulating seven points from six games. That has left them sitting in 12th place in the standings.
The Eagles' return from the international break was marked by a historic win over a Nottingham Forest side at Selhurst Park. Daichi Kamada, Jefferson Lerma, and Yeremy Pino got on the scoreboard as the team won 3-1 - their first-ever league win against this opponent after a 12-match winless run.
Pierre Sage's side will want to build on that outcome and secure another positive result in the UEFA Europa League. They face French opposition in a European competition for just the second time in history.
They last met Strasbourg last season and lost 2-1. Can they rewrite the script, or is another defeat looming? Find out what our experts have to say in our Lyon vs Crystal Palace prediction for more insights into the game.
The debutants began their campaign in stellar fashion, thrashing Lech Poznan 4-0 at home. It has been an incredible run for them in European competition, as that result means they have won eight of their last 12 matches (D3, L1).
During this sequence, they were on an unforgettable ten-match unbeaten run. This saw them clinch the UEFA Europa Conference League title last term.
However, Crystal Palace could find themselves on the receiving end of a disappointing result in their bid to make it two wins on the bounce because of the erratic away form that has seen them win just one of their last eight outings across all competitions.
No Openda, no worries! Nuamah is Ernest about business
Olympique Lyon will be without Lois Openda for this upcoming encounter, who has been ruled out with a leg injury. On loan from Serie A club Juventus, the 26-year-old has hardly made an impression in his last five appearances, scoring once and providing one assist.
Openda's 2026-27 stats for Lyon:
Competition | Games Played | Minutes Played | Goals | Assists | Total Shots | Shots on Target | Yellow Cards | Passing Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ligue 1 | 5 | 394 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 1 | 78% |
UEFA Europa League | 1 | 65 | - | - | 2 | 2 | - | 87% |
His absence is unlikely to be a major blow, as head coach Paulo Fonseca has a better option to fill the void up front. Ernest Nuamah is the perfect candidate to get the job done this Thursday.
While Pavel Sulc is expected to lead the attack, the 22-year-old Ghanaian will operate on the right flank in what could be a 4-3-3 formation. In Ligue 1, he has contributed to four goals across five appearances for his side (G3, A1).
He was left out in the team's 2-1 away win to Anderlecht in the opening match of the UEFA Europa League - League Phase but went on to score twice against Rennes in his next match in Ligue 1 at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais. Expect him to go all out once again, this time in his first appearance for his club in European competition this season.
