It costs nothing to dream, and you’d forgive [**Crystal Palace**](https://www.football365.com/crystal-palace) fans for daring to do so for another European trophy – especially after their 4-0 win over Lech Poznan on matchday one. But their clash with Lyon served as a back-down-to-earth reminder of how much tougher it will be to stage a strong Europa League run.
This is, after all, a team still finding their new identity under Pierre Sage. Never mind the increase in level of opposition from when they were in the Conference League, which was plainly evident away at Lyon.
Palace just weren’t at the races fast enough in France and, one spell in the second half aside, rarely looked like they’d get up to speed.
Poor starts are becoming something of a theme for Palace under Sage – and he knows it. Only once from their six league games this season so far have they taken the lead, and that was in a game they still went on to lose (to Ipswich Town).
Once again, they gave their opponents a head start this time around, with Lyon’s Corentin Tolisso reacting to a drop down after a corner to put his side in front within the opening 10 minutes.
Something seems off with Palace’s preparation. These things can happen in set-piece situations, but they just weren’t alert enough.
In fact, all throughout the first half, they looked leggy. Their formation was stretched, with Lyon taking advantage especially out wide. Palace are well used to playing in a system with wing-backs by now, even before Sage, but you wouldn’t have guessed it looking at how they were exploited in those areas.
Keito Nakamura was a thorn in Palace’s side, creating lots of danger from the left. He found himself in acres of space for the move that led to Lyon’s second goal just before half time, playing the ball in for Ernest Nuamah to finish.
Daniel Munoz was always going to be a tough act to follow at right-back for Palace, and it will take time for one of his replacements – Oscar Mingueza was the starter this time, with Anan Khalaili replacing him later on – to prove themselves a worthy successor.
But while Palace’s start to the game had been questionable, Sage must have got a better message across at half time.
Palace pressed higher and put more pressure on Lyon, which paid off when Yeremy Pino got them on the scoreboard just five or so minutes in.
Remember that stat earlier about how infrequently Palace take the lead in games this season? Well, they’ve scored the first goal of the second half in three of their league games and all three across the cups, including tonight.
There were still times when Palace looked stretched, but it’s something they’re going to have to get used to quickly balancing the conveyor belt of games that comes with being a European side.
Of course, they coped admirably with the Conference League, but the Europa League is a different level of intensity, especially against a team like Lyon who could have reasonable ambitions of aiming for the final.
Palace gave themselves a chance with their shift in mentality in the second half. Even when they saw the two-goal gap open up again after a clever backheel finish by a just-onside Pavel Sulc, they were able to hit back and keep themselves in it with a goal in response from Daichi Kamada.
But there was to be no equaliser, with Palace left to rue their lack of momentum from the off.
There are things to like about this squad. They wouldn’t have achieved what they have over the past couple of seasons if not, even if some key players have moved on or were unavailable.
But this was a reality check of how they will need to step up in the Europa League ahead of next week’s game against Besiktas.
They will, of course, hope for a step up in refereeing standards too, compared to the questionable decision-making from Joao Pinheiro on this occasion. But their undoing was their own.
If Sage can fire his troops up like he seemed to manage to at half time, Palace will stand a better chance. But they were too passive from the first minute and need to make sure they can be consistent for a full European game of this stature.
It’s a situation they would have snapped hands off to be in a few years ago, so it’s important to retain perspective. But if you get to this level and show you can be successful, you might as well try to compete with the next step.
Compete they did, but just not enough over the full affair. If they are to make their European dreams last, that will have to improve.
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