Pierre Sage’s return to Lyon in the Europa League ended in disappointment for his Crystal Palace side, who were beaten 3‑2 at the Groupama Stadium. The French club opened the scoring through Corentin Tolisso, and a second goal from Ernest Nuamah, who did not even shoot on target, gave Lyon a 2‑0 lead before the break. Palace’s Yéremy Pino pulled one back five minutes after the interval, but Pavel Sulc restored the two‑goal cushion for the hosts before the visitors could mount a comeback. Palace’s substitute Daichi Kamada managed to reduce the deficit to 3‑1 with nine minutes left, but the team could not find the equaliser in the final minutes. The defeat followed a recent Premier League win for Palace over Nottingham Forest, where Sage’s former club’s manager Oliver Glasner was defeated at Selhurst Park. Sage’s return to Lyon, where he had managed for 14 months, was marked by a first‑season start for Ismaïla Sarr, who had finished as the Conference League golden boot winner last year.
Meanwhile, AC Milan secured a comfortable 4‑0 victory over RB Salzburg in the Champions League group stage. The Italian side’s win was largely credited to a hat‑trick from 18‑year‑old Alphadjo Cissè, who became the youngest scorer in the competition that season. Milan’s record signing Gonçalo Ramos added a fourth goal in the 72nd minute, while a red card for Salzburg’s Filippo Terracciano reduced the opposition’s chances to recover. The win further cemented Milan’s position in the group, with the team’s manager Ruben Amorim pleased with the performance of his young striker.
In the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen moved to the top of the table after a 4‑0 win over Lech Poznan. Czech striker Patrik Schick converted two penalties in the first half, and Malik Tillman added a goal before the break. Ibrahim Maza scored a late fourth for the German side, ensuring a clean sweep of the points. The result gave Leverkusen a one‑point advantage over rivals Bayern Munich, who had already secured a place in the Champions League group stage.
In La Liga, Real Sociedad recovered from a 1‑0 home loss to Bournemouth by drawing 1‑1 with Union Saint‑Gilloise. The match ended in a stalemate, with both teams unable to secure a decisive advantage. The draw leaves Real Sociedad still in the relegation zone, while Union Saint‑Gilloise remains comfortably mid‑table.
In the Premier League, Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp announced that he would be leaving the club after the season, citing a desire to pursue new challenges. The decision comes after a season of mixed results for the Reds, who finished third in the league and reached the Champions League semi‑finals. Klopp’s departure will be felt across the English top flight, as the club looks to find a replacement who can maintain their competitive edge.