Europa League: Lyon edge Palace, Benfica crush Celtic

Europa League night delivers goals, drama and late twists

The Europa League served up a busy evening across Europe, with Lyon edging Crystal Palace in a five-goal thriller, Benfica brushing aside Celtic with ruthless efficiency, and Juventus striking at the death to climb to the top of the standings. It was the kind of night that mixed pressure, momentum swings and a few sharp reminders of how unforgiving continental football can be.

From a former manager returning to familiar territory, to a teenage scorer stealing the spotlight, to a stoppage-time winner changing the table, the second round of fixtures had plenty of turning points. Several sides found rhythm early, while others spent the night chasing games that had already slipped beyond reach.

Lyon hold off Palace in emotional return for Sage

Pierre Sage’s return to Lyon ended in frustration as Crystal Palace fell 3-2 to his former club at the Groupama Stadium. The result had extra edge because Sage had only recently beaten his predecessor Oliver Glasner in the Premier League, but this time Lyon delivered the sharper finish.

Corentin Tolisso opened the scoring, and Ernest Nuamah doubled the lead before halftime in a first half that saw Palace fail to register a shot on target. That slow start left the Premier League side with a mountain to climb after the break.

Palace improved sharply after the interval. Yéremy Pino pulled one back five minutes into the second half, and the visitors suddenly looked more dangerous. Lyon, however, responded when Pavel Sulc restored the two-goal cushion, a strike that felt decisive at the time.

Daichi Kamada’s late finish gave Palace hope, but the equaliser never arrived. It was a spirited recovery, yet one that came too late to change the outcome.

Palace spark too late to rescue the night

Ismaïla Sarr made his first start of the season and helped Palace show more attacking intent after the interval, but the damage had already been done. Lyon’s early control and finishing efficiency proved the difference in a match that could have gone either way if Palace had found an early foothold.

As one observer put it, “At this level, one slow half can define the whole night.” That was especially true for Palace, who were second best when it mattered most.

Benfica overpower Celtic with clinical edge

Benfica also made short work of their assignment, beating Celtic 4-1 in Lisbon in a match shaped by early pressure and relentless finishing. Jhon Durán set the tone with a fifth-minute penalty after Dane Murray’s foul, and the hosts never really loosened their grip from there.

Alexander Bah added the second, and Durán completed his brace in the 35th minute to give Benfica a commanding lead before the interval. Celtic had a few moments of promise and could have scored themselves, but they were repeatedly cut open whenever Benfica stepped up the tempo.

Camilo Durán reduced the deficit in the 63rd minute with a brave header after a difficult personal schedule that had kept him in Glasgow for the birth of his second child. It was a determined response, but Benfica still had the final word when substitute Vangelis Pavlidis fired in the fourth with two minutes left.

The scoreline reflected Benfica’s efficiency more than Celtic’s lack of effort. For Martin O’Neill’s side, the lesson was harsh: chances at this level must be converted early, because clinical opponents rarely let you off twice.

Juventus strike late, Leverkusen and Milan impress

Juventus produced one of the night’s biggest moments, with Randal Kolo Muani scoring a stoppage-time header to seal a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo and send the Italian side to the top of the standings. Hugo Álvarez had given the Spanish side an early lead, but Nick Woltemade levelled on the hour before Kolo Muani delivered the decisive blow in the second minute of added time.

The late winner was a reminder of Juventus’ ability to stay alive in tight games. They did not dominate for long stretches, but they found the one moment that mattered most.

Milan were even more comfortable in Salzburg, where Alphadjo Cissè hit a hat-trick in a 4-0 win. Gonçalo Ramos added a fourth before Filippo Terracciano’s red card slightly dampened the mood. Still, it was a statement performance from a side who looked sharp from the outset.

Bayer Leverkusen matched that authority with a 4-0 victory at Lech Poznan, with Patrik Schick scoring twice from the penalty spot and Malik Tillman adding another before halftime. Ibrahim Maza completed the rout late on, and the result pushed Leverkusen to the top early in the standings before Juventus’ late winner shifted the picture again.

Brighton fly, Hearts frustrated, Sociedad held

Brighton also produced a strong response on the night, as Georginio Rutter marked his first start since the opening day with two goals and an assist in a 4-0 victory over Kauno Zalgiris. Jack Hinshelwood and Matt O’Riley also scored in a performance that offered a timely reminder of Rutter’s quality.

For Fabian Hürzeler, it was exactly the sort of contribution he would have wanted from a player fighting to reclaim his place. Brighton were fluent, direct and efficient.

Hearts, meanwhile, were denied a winning start by a late Nordsjælland equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle. Oisin McEntee had given the home side the lead, but Nicklas Røjkjær’s deflected strike earned the visitors a point. It was a frustrating finish for Hearts after they had looked in control for long spells.

Real Sociedad also had to settle for a point after drawing 1-1 away at Union Saint-Gilloise, showing that this competition continues to punish any lapse in concentration. On a night packed with goals, the standouts were the sides that finished their chances cleanly and stayed composed under pressure.

A table full of early signals

With the standings beginning to take shape, the early pattern is clear: the teams that start fast are already putting distance between themselves and the pack.

As the tournament moves forward, the message is simple: the margin for error is thin, and the sides that combine control with conviction are the ones already separating themselves from the rest.