Lyon v Crystal Palace: Europa League preview, predicted line-ups and tips
Lyon host Crystal Palace at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais with both sides unbeaten after one league-phase game. Predicted line-ups, team news and our tips.
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Lyon v Crystal Palace: Europa League preview
Lyon and Crystal Palace both have a win to protect when they meet at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais in Europa League league-stage matchday two.
Each side has three points from one game. Palace sit second in the table on a goal difference of plus four, behind only Juventus. Lyon have the stronger case on home soil, but they are without three players and Palace arrive with a 4-0 win in their pocket.
It is a first competitive meeting between the clubs. Their only previous game was a friendly at Selhurst Park in August 2023, which Palace won 2-0.
Lyon
Crystal PalaceHow Lyon and Crystal Palace got here
Lyon opened their campaign with a 2-1 win away at Anderlecht on 16 September. They scored twice in the first 30 minutes and conceded in the 61-75 minute window. They had 42% possession and 10 shots on target from 13 attempts.
Palace beat Lech Poznan 4-0 at home the following night, with a goal in each of the first three quarters of an hour and another late on. One of the four came from a penalty. They had 53% possession, 16 shots and kept a clean sheet.
That makes Lyon's visit the first away league-phase game Palace have played this season. Lyon are playing at home for the first time.
Rotation and selection
Europa League league-phase games rarely come with a pure cup-tie mindset. Both sides would like to sit in the top eight and avoid the play-offs, so expect strong elevens rather than wholesale changes.
Lyon's injury list thins their options in attack and midfield, which limits how much the hosts can rotate. Palace have used a 3-4-3 in their opener and have no obvious reason to abandon it.
LyonCrystal Palace
- 5 Aug 232–0
Line-ups
Lyon4-1-2-1-2- 1GD. Greif
- 13DZ. Athekame
- 20DF. Bacher
- 21DR. Kluivert
- 16DAbner
- 23MT. Morton
- 99MN. Nartey
- 8MC. Tolisso
- 18MK. Merah
- 7FE. Nuamah
- 11FKeito Nakamura
Crystal Palace3-4-2-1- 44GW. Benítez
- 26DC. Richards
- 5DA. Disasi
- 6DJ. Canvot
- 30MÓscar Mingueza
- 23MQ. Timber
- 20MA. Wharton
- 3MT. Mitchell
- 7MI. Sarr
- 10MYeremy Pino
- 22FJ. Strand Larsen
Where to watch Lyon v Crystal Palace: TV and online streams
Kick-off at the Parc Olympique Lyonnais is 17:45 BST on Thursday 15 October 2026. A UK broadcaster has not been confirmed for this fixture, and this page will be updated closer to kick-off.
If level after 90 minutes, there is no extra time or penalty shootout. League-phase games can end in a draw, and the result stands.
Stats for Lyon v Crystal Palace
- Lyon won 2-1 at Anderlecht on 16 September, scoring twice inside the first 30 minutes.
- Palace beat Lech Poznan 4-0 at home on 17 September and kept a clean sheet.
- The only previous meeting was a friendly: Crystal Palace 2-0 Lyon at Selhurst Park on 5 August 2023.
- Palace are second in the league phase on goal difference of plus four. Lyon's record is three points from one game, all of it away from home.
Match Result: Lyon to win
Lyon scored twice away from home in their opener and now play in front of their own supporters, where Palace have yet to be tested on the road. Palace's 4-0 win was convincing, but it came at Selhurst Park against Lech Poznan. Lyon are slight favourites at 13/10 and the hosts edge a tight contest, with both sides likely to score.