Olympique Lyonnais hosts Crystal Palace this Thursday, October 15, 2026, in a second-round Europa League fixture that marks a symbolic return for Eagles manager Pierre Sage. The match kicks off at 18:45 on Canal+ Foot.
Pierre Sage returns to Groupama Stadium
The fixture serves as a homecoming for Pierre Sage, who managed Lyon from November 2023 to January 2025. Despite his current role leading Crystal Palace, Sage remains closely tied to his former club. “J’ai l’impression d’être parti hier”, a déclaré Sage. While he noted that he has visited the stadium as an opposing manager with Lens, he characterized this specific return as a “particulier” event.
Sage’s tenure at Crystal Palace follows a challenging transition period after succeeding Oliver Glasner. The manager faced immediate pressure to manage the club’s heavy legacy, enduring 3 défaites lors des quatre premières journées de Premier League. However, momentum has shifted following a 3-1 comeback victory against Nottingham Forest on 11/10/2026, which marked Sage’s first home win in the league.
Paulo Fonseca reflects on tactical preparation
Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca addressed the media on Wednesday, offering praise for his counterpart. “J’aime beaucoup regarder ses équipes, les choses qu’il fait… Ça me motive beaucoup”, Fonseca said. The Lyon coach emphasized that Sage is a “coach très fort” and noted that he finds the tactical preparation for such an opponent rewarding.
Same colors, different club 🔴🔵Pierre Sage returns to Lyon with Crystal Palace 🏡#OLCRY pic.twitter.com/XhAMWfAQBD
The Lyon squad enters the match managing significant roster absences. Fonseca confirmed that the team will be without its “unique attaquant”, Loïs Openda, who has been sidelined since the club’s 1-2 loss at Lens last Friday. Regarding the tactical adjustment, Fonseca noted that while the club could deploy Pavel Šulc out of position, even if it is not his position, they are also prepared to utilize other structures to play without forwards, a strategy he compared to those previously employed by Luis Enrique.
Broadcast and competition details
The Lyon vs. Crystal Palace match is part of the 18:45 kick-off window in the Europa League. Broadcasters have scheduled several simultaneous matches, with a full multiplex available on Canal+ Sport 360 for viewers wishing to track multiple scores. Following the 18:45 slate, the competition continues with a second wave of matches at 21:00, including Marseille’s home fixture against Olympiakos on Canal+.
Crystal Palace currently sits 12th in the Premier League table after 6 journées. Their path to this Europa League fixture included a dominant 4-0 win against Lech Poznań on 17/09/2026. Lyon’s performance in this tournament remains a primary focus for the club as they look to recover from their recent domestic result in Lens.
Status of the encounter
As of Wednesday, the final starting lineups for both clubs remain subject to administrative confirmation shortly before kick-off. While Fonseca has confirmed the absence of Openda, the specific tactical formation Lyon will adopt to mitigate this loss remains the central question for the home side. Crystal Palace arrives with the momentum of their recent victory over Nottingham Forest, though the club has yet to demonstrate consistent form away from Selhurst Park this season.
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