Marseille is getting a little darker with another defeat in the Europa League

Lyon, Marseille, and Rennes all faced crucial matches in the Europa League on Thursday, with varying degrees of success. Lyon secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Crystal Palace at the Groupama Stadium during the second round of group stage fixtures. The match saw Lyon dominate the first half before struggling to maintain control later in the game. This win marks Lyon’s second consecutive victory in European competition after defeating Anderlecht 2-1 earlier in September. The result positions them among the leading teams in the group stage, currently ranked third. Crystal Palace, managed by former Lyon coach Pierre Sage, returned to European competition for the first time since his departure from the club. Despite his return, the team faces challenges in the Premier League, sitting in 12th place with two wins, one draw, and three losses. Their previous European campaign had been successful, including a 4-0 win against Lech Poznan. Meanwhile, Marseille suffered another setback, falling 1-0 to Olympiakos in a match that left the team without a point in their Europa League campaign so far. Coach Bruno Genesio expressed frustration after the loss, stating that the team did not deserve to lose, though he acknowledged the result. Marseille’s struggles have continued throughout the season, with six defeats in eight games across all competitions. The loss to Olympiakos followed a 4-1 defeat at Besiktas in Istanbul, raising concerns about their position in the tournament. Ahead lies a challenging schedule with upcoming matches against Graz and Leverkusen, where securing points will be essential for any meaningful progress in the competition. Rennes also found themselves in a tight battle, overcoming OFI Crete 2-1 in a dramatic encounter. After falling behind early in the match, Rennes staged a late comeback with goals from defenders Mahamadou Nagida and Abdelhamid Aït-Boudlal. The victory was crucial for Rennes, who had previously drawn 0-0 against Sturm Graz, putting pressure on manager Franck Haise. This win ended a run of unsuccessful European matches, marking a positive step forward for the club. Other notable results included Juventus securing a 1-0 win over Salzburg thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Randal Kolo Muani. AC Milan also performed well, defeating Salzburg 4-0. In unrelated news, FIFA President Gianni Infantino apologized to the FIFA Council after abandoning a controversial proposal to allow private investors to participate in the World Cup. The performances of these clubs highlight the varied fortunes in the Europa League, with some teams showing promise while others continue to struggle. As the competition progresses, the outcomes of upcoming matches will be critical in determining each team's trajectory in the tournament.