Europa League Roundup: Crystal Palace Fall to Lyon as AC Milan and Leverkusen Win 4-0

Crystal Palace were beaten 3-2 by Lyon in the Europa League league stage on Thursday, while AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen both won 4-0 on a night with plenty of goals across Europe.

It was Palace's first ever away game in the Europa League, and it began badly. Corentin Tolisso scored in the 8th minute after Palace failed to deal with a corner, and Ernest Nuamah made it 2-0 in first-half injury time, set up by Keito Nakamura's low cross. Palace were much better after the break. Yeremy Pino pulled one back in the 50th minute, firing in after a short corner and a first-time pass from Adam Wharton. Pavel Sulc then restored the two-goal lead with a clever backheel, and Daichi Kamada made it 3-2 from six yards, but Lyon held on. Chris Richards had a late header saved in the 90th minute. Palace boss Pierre Sage was back at his old club, where he was in charge from November 2023 to January 2025. Palace have three points after two games. They have a league game on Sunday, then travel to Besiktas next Thursday.

AC Milan won 4-0 at Red Bull Salzburg, and Cisse stole the show with a hat-trick in the 15th, 32nd and 49th minutes. Gonçalo Ramos added the fourth in the 72nd. Milan Salzburg also finished with ten men after Filippo Terracciano was sent off in the 83rd minute.

Bayer Leverkusen hammered Lech Poznan 4-0, with Patrik Schick scoring two penalties in the 29th and 41st minutes. Malik Tillman made it three in the 32nd, and Ibrahim Maza added a late one in the 88th, set up by Afonso Moreira. Lech Poznan had nothing to offer.

Benfica beat Celtic 4-1 in Lisbon. Jhon Durán scored a penalty in the 5th minute and added another in the 36th, with Alexander Bah (23rd) also getting on the scoresheet. Camilo Durán pulled one back for Celtic in the 63rd minute before Vangelis Pavlidis sealed the win for Benfica in the 89th minute.

Juventus came from behind to win 2-1 at Celta Vigo. Hugo Alvarez put Celta Vigo ahead in the 18th minute. Nick Woltemade levelled in the 58th, and Randal Kolo Muani scored the winner in the 92nd minute, set up by Cambiaso for Juventus.

Sunderland won 2-1 at Torreense after trailing at half-time. Volnei Feltes gave Torreense the lead in the 37th minute. Jules Ahoka levelled for Sunderland in the 67th, and Noah Sadiki scored the winner in the 93rd minute, with Xhaka on the assist.

Besiktas won a lively game 3-2 at Hoffenheim. Amir Murillo scored in the 60th minute, then Oh Hyeon-Gyu hit two in the 72nd and 79th. Hoffenheim replied throughFisnik Asllani (68th) and Koki Machida (87th), but it was not enough for Hoffenheim.

Bournemouth beat Sturm Graz 3-0. Evanilson scored in the 43rd minute, Rayan added another in the 76th, and Álvaro Rodríguez finished from the penalty spot in the 92nd. Sturm Graz had no answer, and Bournemouth cruised home.

Europa League Full-Time Results

AZ Alkmaar 2-1 Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Celje 0-3 Omonia Nicosia

Lech Poznań 0-4 Bayer Leverkusen

Lyon 3-2 Crystal Palace

Red Bull Salzburg 0-4 AC Milan

Sparta Prague 1-1 Lillestrøm

Torreense 1-2 Sunderland

Union Saint-Gilloise 1-1 Real Sociedad

Benfica 4-1 Celtic

Bournemouth 3-0 Sturm Graz

Celta Vigo 1-2 Juventus

Dinamo Zagreb 1-0 Anderlecht

Ferencváros 2-1 Viktoria Plzeň

Hoffenheim 2-3 Beşiktaş

Jagiellonia Białystok 3-1 Ararat-Armenia

Marseille 0-1 Olympiakos

NEC Nijmegen 1-1 Levski Sofia

Rennes 2-1 OFI Crete