UEFA Europa League 26/27 · Round 2 ·
Olympique Lyon vs Crystal Palace preview: Lyon host Crystal Palace in a meeting of early season leaders
Lyon welcome Crystal Palace to Parc Olympique Lyonnais with both sides carrying perfect records from their opening fixtures. The clearest signal is the away side's sharper attack, which has produced four goals without reply so far.
By 10xSharp · Published
This preview was published before kickoff. The match has finished: see the result and full stats. Read the match report.
Who is missing
Lyon are without three defenders: Nicolas Tagliafico is unavailable, while Moussa Niakhate and Mohamed Ouedraogo are listed as injuries. None of those absences touches the club's leading scorers, Noah Teye Nartey and Keito Nakamura, who each have one goal this season. Crystal Palace's only confirmed absence is defender Chadi Riad, also an injury. Their top scorers Eddie Nketiah, Chris Richards and Jorgen Strand Larsen are all available.
Players to watch
Lyon's attack has been shared between midfielders Noah Teye Nartey and Keito Nakamura, who each have one goal in one match and account for half of the team's goals in this competition. Crystal Palace's scoring has been spread more widely: Eddie Nketiah, Chris Richards and Jorgen Strand Larsen each have one goal, with Strand Larsen's coming from the penalty spot. All three are available for this match.
Form guide
Both teams have won their only league match so far, so the form table shows Lyon 10th and Crystal Palace 2nd, each on three points. Lyon's most recent result was a 2-1 defeat at Lens, while Crystal Palace beat Nottingham 3-1 at home. Across their last five matches in all competitions, Lyon have three wins, two draws and one defeat, while Crystal Palace have three wins, one draw and two defeats.
Table position
Crystal Palace sit 2nd with three points from one match, while Lyon are 10th with the same points total. Lyon have played their only match away, winning 2-1, so they have no home record yet. Crystal Palace have played their only match at home, winning 4-0, and have yet to play away.
Past meetings
These clubs have met just once before, in 2023, when Crystal Palace won 2-0. That meeting was not in this competition, so it offers little direct evidence for this fixture. The average total goals across that single meeting is 2.0, and both teams did not score.
Attacking edge
Crystal Palace have scored four goals in their one match this season, a rate well above the league average of 1.31 per team. Lyon have scored two goals in their one match, also better than the league average but less than half the away side's output. The attacking edge sits clearly with Crystal Palace, whose four goals came without reply.
Defensive solidity
Crystal Palace have conceded no goals in their one match this season, a large improvement on the league average of 1.31 per team. Lyon have conceded one goal in their one match, which is marginally better than the league average. The defensive edge is with Crystal Palace, who have kept a clean sheet in their only outing.
Shots and blocks
Lyon have averaged seven shots on target per match, one more than Crystal Palace's six. However, Crystal Palace have seen three of their shots blocked per match, while Lyon have had none blocked. Lyon also average just one shot off target per match, compared with six for Crystal Palace.
When goals arrive
Lyon have scored both of their goals in the first 30 minutes, with one in the opening 15 minutes and one between 16 and 30. Crystal Palace have spread their four goals across the first half and the final 15 minutes, with one in each of the 0-15, 16-30, 31-45 and 76-90 windows. Lyon's only goal conceded came between 61 and 75 minutes.
Goal environment
Lyon's one match this season produced three goals, going over 2.5 and over 1.5. Crystal Palace's one match produced four goals, also going over 2.5 and over 1.5. Both teams have seen all of their goals come in the first half, with none after the break.
What to expect
Crystal Palace arrive with the sharper attack and the tighter defence, having scored four and conceded none in their only match. Lyon have been solid but less explosive, scoring twice and conceding once. The market prices Lyon as narrow favourites, but the away side's early season numbers suggest a close contest with the potential for goals.