Europa League: Lyon beat Crystal Palace; Benfica rout Celtic

Pierre Sage's Crystal Palace lost 3-2 to Lyon at the Groupama Stadium in a Europa League match on October 15, 2026, while Benfica overwhelmed Celtic 4-1 in Lisbon on the same night.

Sage returned to the stadium where he previously managed for 14 months, with Corentin Tolisso opening the scoring for Lyon and Ernest Nuamah doubling the lead late in a first half that saw Crystal Palace fail to register a shot on target. Days earlier Sage had beaten his predecessor, Nottingham Forest manager Oliver Glasner, at Selhurst Park in the Premier League. Ismaïla Sarr started for Palace for the first time this season.

Lyon built their lead before the interval through Tolisso and Nuamah; five minutes after the restart Yéremy Pino reduced the deficit for Palace but Pavel Sulc restored Lyon’s two-goal cushion. Palace substitute Daichi Kamada pulled one back with nine minutes remaining, but Crystal Palace could not find a late equaliser and the hosts held on for a 3-2 victory.

In Lisbon Benfica took control early as Jhon Durán converted a penalty after five minutes and completed his second from open play in the 35th minute, having seen Alexander Bah double the home side’s lead earlier in the half. Celtic threatened at times and might have scored before half-time, but Camilo Durán’s headed goal in the 63rd minute only reduced the deficit. Vangelis Pavlidis added a fourth for Benfica with two minutes remaining; Camilo Durán had joined the squad late after remaining in Glasgow for the birth of his second child.

Brighton defeated Kauno Zalgiris 4-0 at the Amex Stadium, with Georginio Rutter scoring twice and creating another in his first start since the opening day of the season against the Lithuanian champions Kauno Zalgiris. Rutter had lost his place to Charalampos Kostoulas and his performance sent a message to manager Fabian Hürzeler; Jack Hinshelwood and Matt O’Riley also scored for Brighton.

Juventus secured a 2-1 win at Celta Vigo thanks to a stoppage-time header from Randal Kolo Muani after Hugo Álvarez had put the hosts ahead early and Nick Woltemade levelled on the hour. AC Milan beat RB Salzburg 4-0 as Alphadjo Cissè scored a hat-trick and Gonçalo Ramos added a fourth on 72 minutes, with Filippo Terracciano receiving a red card. Bayer Leverkusen followed up an opening 2-0 win by putting four past Lech Poznan, Patrik Schick converting two first-half penalties either side of a Malik Tillman goal and Ibrahim Maza adding a late fourth.

Hearts were held 1-1 at Tynecastle as Oisin McEntee’s 33rd-minute finish was cancelled out by a late, deflected strike from Nicklas Røjkjær to earn Nordsjælland a point; the visitors are fourth in the Danish Superliga. Real Sociedad drew 1-1 at Union Saint-Gilloise, following their opening defeat at home to Bournemouth earlier in the competition.

Juventus’ win leaves them top of their standings and Bayer Leverkusen put themselves top of the standings after the early kick-offs.