Crystal Palace will be without Jean-Philippe Mateta, Dean Henderson, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben Chilwell for Thursday’s Europa League match against Lyon at the Groupama Stadium.
Palace boss Pierre Sage confirmed the quartet would not be involved when speaking to the media before the 17:45 BST kick-off. No further details about their absence were provided.
The match will see Sage return to Lyon, where he still has a home and retains a personal connection. He described the occasion as a special one, while stressing that Palace’s preparations must remain focused on producing a strong performance.
Sage expects a demanding test from his former club, highlighting Lyon’s strength in midfield and their attacking approach. He also noted that the French side have made several changes since last season as they continue to shape the team.
Palace are set to be backed by around 3,000 travelling supporters in France. Sage said the club were delighted and proud that so many fans would make the journey, adding that their presence was about sharing the occasion with the team as well as the result.
Despite his familiarity with Lyon, Sage said Palace still needed to prepare their players carefully for the challenge. He acknowledged that emotion would be present, but insisted the central objective was to treat the occasion as a football match and deliver the required display.
