Corentin Tolisso opened the scoring for the hosts and Ernest Nuamah doubled Lyon’s advantage late in a first half void of any shots on target for the visitors.

Yeremy Pino cut the deficit in half five minutes after the break before Pavel Sulc restored the Ligue 1 side’s advantage.

Eagles substitute Daichi Kamada pulled one back with nine minutes remaining in a better second half for Palace, who could not find a third.

Days after beating his predecessor, Nottingham Forest boss Oliver Glasner, at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on Sunday, Sage found himself returning to the home of the club he managed for 14 months.

Ismaila Sarr, who claimed the Conference League golden boot last season, was in a Crystal Palace starting line-up for the first time this season.