Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has confirmed that Jean-Philippe Mateta, Dean Henderson, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben Chilwell will miss Thursday’s Europa League match against Lyon.
The game will be played at Lyon’s Groupama Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 BST. Sage also welcomed the travelling support, with 3,000 Palace fans expected to attend the fixture.
He said the supporters’ presence was important beyond the result, describing their decision to make the trip and share the occasion with the team as a source of pride for the club.
The match will also see Sage return to Lyon, where he still has a house and retains an emotional connection. He acknowledged that facing a familiar club brings an added sense of occasion, but stressed that Palace’s preparation must focus on the demands of the game.
Sage said Lyon possess considerable strength in midfield and are keen to attack. He added that the French side had made several changes since last season, including logical adjustments designed to shape the team in line with their approach.
Although Palace’s manager has knowledge of Lyon, he said neither he nor the players could claim to know everything about the opposition. The squad would therefore need guidance on how to deal with specific positions, while maintaining focus on producing a strong performance despite the emotion surrounding the fixture.
