Crystal Palace’s UEFA Europa League adventure will continue in France next month, with the Eagles set to face Olympique Lyonnais at the Groupama Stadium on Thursday, 15 October. Kick-off is scheduled for 17:45 BST, in what will be Palace’s second league-phase fixture after their 2-1 victory over Lech Poznań at Selhurst Park.
The trip follows a landmark season for the club, who lifted the UEFA Conference League in May to claim the first European trophy in their history. That success secured automatic qualification for the Europa League’s 36-team league phase. The top eight teams will progress directly to the last 16, while sides finishing from ninth to 24th will enter the knockout phase play-offs.
Palace will be visiting Lyon’s home for the first time in a competitive fixture. Opened in January 2016, the stadium replaced Stade de Gerland as Olympique Lyonnais’ base. It hosted its first match on 9 January that year, when Lyon defeated Troyes 4-1, with Alexandre Lacazette scoring the opening goal at the venue.
Now officially known as Groupama Stadium, following a naming-rights agreement in 2017, the ground has capacity for 59,186 spectators. It was also known as Parc Olympique Lyonnais, or Parc OL, when it first opened. The venue was one of the host stadiums for Euro 2016 and later staged the 2018 UEFA Europa League final between Marseille and Atlético Madrid.
The stadium has also welcomed the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup final, major rugby matches and concerts. Situated in Décines-Charpieu, around 10 kilometres east of Lyon city centre, it forms part of a wider sporting and entertainment complex that includes the club’s training facilities, hotels and offices.
Lyon itself is renowned for its historic centre, architecture and food, with landmarks including Vieux Lyon, the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière and the Presqu’île district. For Palace supporters making the journey, the visit will combine the attractions of France’s third-largest city with the chance to see the Eagles take another step in their European campaign at one of the country’s leading sporting venues.
