Lyon beat Crystal Palace to make it two Europa League wins in a row

Lyon made it two consecutive Europa League victories with a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace. The result provisionally lifted Les Gones into third place in the league phase, after a high-scoring match that looked to be going their way for much of the evening before a tense finish.

After a largely tight first half, OL went into the break with a two-goal lead. The second goal came just before the whistle, closing out an opening period that had been quiet overall. Merah helped quicken the move with a fine touch. From a Crystal Palace corner that was not properly cleared, Tolisso then found the net, getting his foot to the ball and beating the opposing goalkeeper.

Crystal Palace found more room after the restart. The visitors moved the ball out well following an initial spell of Lyon possession, while Merah carried it forward towards the edge of the penalty area. Lyon eventually worked its way out of its own half and created its first chance of the second period. The hosts also faced danger at the other end: Kamada tried to turn a loose ball in the box into a goal but was stopped by the Lyon goalkeeper. Osorio also had a shot blocked by the Lyon defence.

The closing stages tested Les Gones. Lyon supporters sang the French national anthem to encourage their side, while substitutions were being prepared. A Lyon player was shown a yellow card. Earlier, a young Lyon player had tried a first-time shot, but sent it too wide. A Lyon forward, meanwhile, was able to celebrate his goal after being ruled onside.

The win came after OL’s 2-1 defeat to Lens on Friday, which followed a run of five matches without defeat. Crystal Palace, meanwhile, conceded early—a pattern consistent with the team’s frequent slow starts since the beginning of the season. Despite the visitors’ response and a nervous finish, Lyon held on for another European victory.