Pierre Sage and Crystal Palace set for Lyon return in Europa League | OneFootball

Pierre Sage will return to the Groupama Stadium with Crystal Palace in the Europa League, with Lyon facing a stiffer league phase than last season. The date will be confirmed on Saturday when UEFA releases the fixture list.

According to L'Équipe, Palace have been drawn to visit OL, who will also host Bayer Leverkusen and travel to Real Sociedad and Hoffenheim.

Sage felt it was almost inevitable and, though he likes returning to Lyon, said his focus was on that night’s visit of Manchester City. He also had first reunions with Rayan Cherki and has already won there twice with Lens.

Lyon’s hierarchy, in Monaco for the draw, felt it went well even if a softer slate might have helped. Sporting director Matthieu Louis-Jean called it a good yet demanding draw, flagged the potential returns of Sage and Afonso Moreira, sold to Leverkusen this summer, and set a top eight target to avoid a play-off.

Along the way they must also host Union Saint-Gilloise and visit Anderlecht, two Belgian traps. The most distant trip takes them to Jagiellonia Bialystok, near the Belarusian border, while Lilleström at home looks the most manageable.

Club director Michael Gerlinger said facing Palace felt unlikely given UEFA procedure and the links between Eagle, Crystal Palace, OL and Sage, calling it a special occasion. It should be meaningful too for Jean-Philippe Mateta, who came through Lyon’s youth system, and for Mamadou Sarr, now on loan at Real Sociedad from Chelsea after Strasbourg.

Source: L'Équipe

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