Lyon vs Crystal Palace prediction, probable lineups, bet builder tips and betting odds for this Europa League clash. Read our angles before kick-off.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Match Summary
Competition | Europa League |
|---|---|
Match Date | Thursday 15 October 2026 |
Match Time | 17:45 UK time |
Venue (City, Stadium) | Groupama Stadium |
Broadcast (TV / Streaming / Radio / Bookmaker Streaming) | TNT Sports 1 (UK) |
Lyon vs Crystal Palace brings plenty of subplots to Groupama Stadium on Thursday, with both sides arriving off opening Europa League wins and roughly 3,000 Palace fans making the trip.
Lyon arrive with a bruise. Friday's defeat to RC Lens ended a five-match unbeaten run, and Paulo Fonseca must now plan without Lois Openda, ruled out with a leg injury.
Crystal Palace are in better nick and unbeaten in three games in all competitions. Pierre Sage's side carry real craft behind the striker through Pino and Kamada.
Palace won the only previous meeting between these clubs, and Sage returns to face the side he once managed. Expect emotion, but there is plenty riding on this fixture.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Form
Lyon's form has dipped at the wrong moment. Their recent unbeaten run, which included a win over Anderlecht in the Europa League, ended with defeat to RC Lens, leaving them fourth in Ligue 1. A Lyon win would have landed 4 times out of the last 10 matches against all opponents, which tells you how patchy they have been. Sulc now leads the line.
Palace look sharper. They hammered Lech Poznan 4-0 in their competition opener and came from behind to beat Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. They also sit second in the competition standings, and with Mateta injured, Jorgen Larsen is the man leading the line.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Lineups & Team News
Injuries & Suspensions
Lyon: L. Openda (Injured/out), M. Ouédraogo (Injured/out), M. Niakhaté (Injured/out)
Crystal Palace: J. Mateta (Injured/out), C. Riad (Injured/out), D. Henderson (Injured/out)
Lyon
Injuries shape the Lyon vs Crystal Palace lineups on the home side. Openda picked up a leg injury against RC Lens and misses out, so Keito Nakamura is in line to replace him. Noah Nartey and Tanner Tessmann are expected to be recalled, while M. Ouédraogo and M. Niakhaté are also sidelined.
Crystal Palace
Dean Henderson is out, so Walker Benitez starts in goal. Mateta and C. Riad are also injured, and Pierre Sage could bring Honest Ahanor into the back five for the trip to Groupama Stadium.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Predicted Lineup
Lyon
Formation: 4-2-3-1 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Probable XI: D. Greif; Z. Athekame, R. Kluivert, C. Mata, A. Vinícius; T. Morton, T. Tessmann; K. Boudache, N. Nartey, K. Nakamura; P. Sulc
Crystal Palace
Formation: 3-4-2-1 (probable)
Predicted Starting Lineup: Probable XI: W. Benítez; H. Ahanor, A. Disasi, C. Richards; A. Khalaili, A. Wharton, Q. Timber, T. Mitchell; Y. Pino, D. Kamada; J. S. Larsen
Check out all the latest oddschecker Free Bets & Sign-Up Offers for Lyon vs Crystal Palace.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Prediction & Best Bets
Our prediction: Lyon to edge a messy, open game with goals at both ends. The Lyon vs Crystal Palace betting odds show how little separates the sides, with Lyon 13/8 with AK Bets. Palace are 7/4 with Coral, and while their form is better, our numbers tilt this one narrowly towards the hosts on home soil.
Best Bets
Over 2.5 goals in the Total Goals Over/Under market. Lyon and Crystal Palace are both projected to score, so the game should stay open. The projection lands on 3.36 total goals, well clear of the line the market has set, which makes this the standout of our Lyon vs Crystal Palace best bets. It also rates as a positive expected value line and fits the open game we are calling.
Yes in the Both Teams To Score market. Both sides have goals in them, and Lyon are missing Openda while Palace are without Mateta and Henderson. Our numbers give both teams to score a 66.12% probability, higher than the price implies. Sulc and Larsen lead depleted attacks, but Nartey on one side and Pino and Kamada on the other give both teams enough craft to find the net.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Bet Builder
Our Lyon vs Crystal Palace bet builder tips combine a Lyon win, Jorgen Larsen to score anytime, both teams to score and Will Hughes to be shown a card.
Lyon to win. Our numbers give the hosts a 41% probability, the highest of the three outcomes, and they will have the home crowd behind them at Groupama Stadium.
Jorgen Larsen to score anytime. With Mateta injured, Larsen leads the line in Palace's probable XI and carries a 34.49% probability of finding the net.
Both teams to score. Both sides are projected to score, and this leg sits neatly alongside a Lyon win in a game we expect to be open rather than stubborn.
Will Hughes to be shown a card. He is not in Palace's probable XI, so this leg needs him to get minutes, but he carries a 28.65% probability of going in the book.
At the time of writing, this bet builder pays a best price of 28/1 and is as short as 20/1 elsewhere.
Make sure to get the best odds on your Bet Builder with Oddschecker's Exclusive Bet Builder Comparison Tool.
Bet builder odds correct at time of publishing.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Talking Points
The big story is Pierre Sage's return to Lyon, the club he hauled from the bottom of Ligue 1 to European qualification and the Coupe de France final. He expects emotion in the air but insists 'the important thing is it's a football game and we need a good performance.' Paulo Fonseca, for his part, has flagged the tactical challenge of Sage's structured Palace side, noting the organisational continuity from his work at Lens. That familiarity cuts both ways, which is why our Lyon vs Crystal Palace prediction stays narrow and expects goals at both ends.
Lyon vs Crystal Palace Predictions FAQs
When is the Lyon vs Crystal Palace Europa League game?
The match kicks off at 17:45 UK time on Thursday 15 October 2026.
Where is Lyon vs Crystal Palace being played?
The match is being played at Groupama Stadium.
Where can I watch Lyon vs Crystal Palace?
The match is listed on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
What competition is Lyon vs Crystal Palace in?
Lyon vs Crystal Palace is a Europa League fixture.
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