Palace latest: Sage admits Lyon return brings back 'emotion'

Crystal Palace boss Pierre Sage admits there will be some "emotion" in the Europa League match against his former club Lyon on Thursday. The 47-year-old had a spell as interim boss at Lyon in November 2023, steering them to Europa League qualification, and then moved to Lens before joining Crystal Palace in the summer.

Palace claimed their second Premier League win of the campaign after the international break, a 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday, and now attention turns to Europe." I still feel part of Lyon somehow. I still have a house here, so it's a special moment," said Sage. "The last time I was here was May 17, so it's a special moment for me.

"I cannot claim to know everything about the club and the Palace players don't know everything about the club, so we need to educate them, tell them how to play against a certain position. "There will be emotion in the air - but the important thing is it's a football game and we need a good performance."

Latest from Sky Sports' Dev Trehan:Crystal Palace academy graduate Rohan Luthra will start in goal for Gillingham in tonight’s Jersey Mike’s Trophy clash with Brighton U21s, Sky Sports News understands.

Former England youth international Luthra joined Gillingham as a free agent just over a fortnight ago, signing a short-term deal with Gareth Ainsworth’s side, and has been on the bench for the club’s last three games. The 6ft 5in Punjabi stopper came through the ranks and turned professional at Palace, before spells at Cardiff City and Deby County.

Luthra, who spent some time as a training goalkeeper with Chelsea last year, has also gained valuable first-team experience at Slough Town, Spennymoor Town, Bedford Town and Eastbourne Borough. In 2023, Luthra debuted for Cardiff City becoming the first British South Asian to play for the club since Michal Chopra and the first goalkeeper from the community ever to play in the top two divisions of English football.

Pierre Sage hopes Crystal Palace will carry a bit of extra confidence into Thursday night’s Europa League clash in Lyon after securing their first Premier League win at home. The Eagles came back to beat Nottingham Forest 3-1 on Sunday at Selhurst Park, where the spotlight was on the visiting manager – former Palace boss Oliver Glasner – rather than the Frenchman.

Sage will now embark on his own reunion tour when Palace travel to the club he managed for 14 months, before he was sacked in January 2025 and moved on to Lens. “How much (does it help)? It’s difficult to say,” said Sage. “But when you win, you always need to play again, and for that we have a big game in Lyon.

“We have to prepare it, and I think to prepare the thing when you are more quiet in your mindset, when you are without doubt, you can improve quickly. “But we know the game was not perfect, we have to accept that, but we have to understand that sometimes we have to win like this.

“I think if I had the choice to make everybody make a good performance today and lose before Lyon, I think today we are in a better condition to prepare this game and the one after.” Palace resume their Premier League campaign away to rivals Brighton on Sunday.

Sky Sports' William Bitibiri at Selhurst Park: "Crystal Palace have shown signs of rediscovering their attacking spark under Pierre Sage, with their 3-1 comeback win over Nottingham Forest the latest example. "The Eagles have now scored three or more goals in two of their last four league games – as often as they managed across their previous 37 Premier League matches combined."

Goals were a problem during Oliver Glasner's latter days in charge, as Palace struggled to balance their domestic and European commitments. "There is an early sense of a throwback to the more free-scoring side that flourished under the Austrian in his first season, when their pace, movement and attacking combinations made them a threat to anyone."

It is still early in Sage's tenure, and two high-scoring performances do not guarantee a lasting change. But Palace look to be playing with greater freedom and confidence, with Kamada, Lerma and Pino all finding the net against Forest." If Sage can sustain that attacking momentum while tightening up a defence that has been vulnerable this season, there are encouraging signs of a more dangerous Palace taking shape."

3: GOAL! Forest take an early lead as Anan Khalaili's attempted header back to his goalkeeper falls straight into Ndoye's path, and the forward produces a superb finish. 7: SAVE! Kamada crosses for Strand Larsen, who forces Sels into a fine stop before the Forest goalkeeper denies him again. 21: SAVE! Benítez tips Ndoye's header over the bar as Forest continue to threaten. 28: CLOSE!

Daniel Munoz meets Neco Williams' cross at the far post with a side-footed half-volley but sends his effort wide. 35: CROSSBAR! Gibbs-White rattles the woodwork before Benítez produces a stunning point-blank save to deny Delap from doubling Forest's lead. 41: GOAL! Palace are level as Kamada slots home after the ball breaks kindly into his path inside the area. His first Premier League goal survives a VAR check.

45+4: GOAL! Palace complete a remarkable turnaround before the break as Lerma heads home a superb delivery, with the ball slipping through Sels' legs. 59: GOAL! Palace extend their lead! Strand Larsen's effort is saved by Sels, but Pino reacts quickest to slot home the rebound after a VAR check. 76: SAVE!

Benítez produces another excellent stop to deny Wood from close range, keeping Palace's two-goal advantage intact. 90+5: FULL-TIME! Palace come from behind to beat Forest 3-1, ending their long wait for a league victory over the visitors and spoiling Glasner's return to Selhurst Park.

Glasner received a warm reception from the Selhurst Park crowd before kick-off following his return to south London after leaving Palace for Forest in the summer. However, the mood changed during the game, with supporters later chanting “Glasner, what’s the score?” and “sacked in the morning!” as Palace came from behind to claim victory. “The game is not against Oliver.

The game is against Nottingham and that's the most important thing,” Sage said. “We just have to be respectful with him, with what he did here. He helped me a lot because this team knows and is able to do a lot of things, and I have to thank him for that.”

Palace recovered from Dan Ndoye’s early opener, with Daichi Kamada scoring his first Premier League goal before Jefferson Lerma headed the hosts in front just before half-time. Yeremy Pino then added a third after the break to secure Palace’s first league win over Forest since 2011.

Sage was quick to highlight the contribution of Benitez - who is deputising for the injured Dean Henderson - after his crucial saves helped keep Palace in the contest while Forest threatened to extend their lead. “Walter made a save with a lot of bravery. I think he let us stay in the game and that was really important at this moment,” he said.

“If it was 2-0 for them, the mentality of the team would be more difficult. His performance today is really crazy and I have to congratulate him because when you play as No 2 it's always difficult.” Despite the result, Sage acknowledged there were defensive concerns, particularly in dealing with Ndoye, and insisted Palace must improve. “It's not normal to concede too many chances as we conceded today,” he said.

“We have to be more efficient in one-vs-one situations when we defend.” The victory gives Palace a boost ahead of their Europa League meeting with Lyon, but Sage stressed the importance of building consistency rather than treating one result as a turning point.

Analysis from Sky Sports News' Chris Reidy:"Sunday is a big game for Pierre Sage. "Not for the return of Oliver Glasner. Not for the chance to beat Nottingham Forest, who replaced Crystal Palace in last season’s Europa League. "Sage has one win in five Premier League games and wants momentum going into a busy period of Premier League, European fixtures and domestic cup games.

"Journalists who cover Crystal Palace weekly are used to good-natured press conferences with Sage, filled with measured answers and plenty of humour." Every time a journalist who hasn’t attended a Sage presser before visits, the review is almost exactly the same. "'Nice guy, I really hope he does well.' It was the same again today as Sage was full of positivity but also realism.

"Sage admitted the clean sheet against Leeds last time out in the Premier League saw a more balanced performance from his side. But he stressed that while the team defended better, he does not want them to lose their attacking threat. And he wants more performances like that coming up." He was keen to praise Glasner ahead of his return to Selhurst Park.

He offered a reminder of the success he brought to South London. Sage himself has left a club after success, finishing second with Lens and winning the French Cup last season. "A big part of the reason Crystal Palace appointed Sage was because of his French Cup win. They saw a winner. And cup results have given Sage room to breathe in his slow start in the Premier League.

"But Sage joined himself to be tested in the Premier League, and he knows success there is the main objective - he said so himself today." And even if he won’t admit it, beating Glasner and Nottingham Forest on Sunday would be the perfect way to kickstart his season."

Ismaila Sarr is ready to start for Crystal Palace for the first time under Pierre Sage, the head coach has revealed - but Jean-Philippe Mateta's return will have to wait. Sarr has managed only 24 minutes in a Palace shirt this season after sitting out the opening weeks of the season with a groin injury. But Sage revealed ahead of Sunday's game with Nottm Forest, live on Sky Sports: "He's ready to start this week.

He played very well this week in a session, it was his best week with us since the beginning." I think will re-find the player you know." Mateta has not been available since playing an hour on the opening day of the season at Everton - but is finally back in training after almost two months out. Sage added: "Mateta has done his first training with us, but it’s a good step.

He was out a long time, but it’s a good sign both for him and also for us. He will not be available for the game this weekend."

Latest from Sky Sports News' Chris Reidy:Crystal Palace are in talks with Ismaila Sarr's representatives over a new contract. Talks have been described as 'positive' and ‘good-natured' but an agreement isn't close yet. Sarr's current deal expires in 2029. Galatasaray made a bid in the summer to sign the Senegal international while there was also interest from Liverpool.

Takehiro Tomiyasu will not be joining up with the Japan national squad after sustaining a calf injury in Crystal Palace’s 0-0 draw against Leeds. Tomiyasu was substituted at half-time at Elland Road and will miss matches against Uruguay, Venezuela and Ecuador.

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