Crystal Palace marked their first Europa League appearance with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Lech Poznan at Selhurst Park.
After winning the Conference League last season, Palace stepped up to Europe’s second-tier competition and produced a commanding display, doing most of the damage before half-time.
Yeremy Pino opened the scoring after capitalising on a poor throw from Terry Yegbe. The winger collected the loose ball outside the penalty area, drove forward and finished calmly to put the hosts ahead.
Lech threatened to respond, but Palace struck again when Chris Richards rose to meet Adam Wharton’s corner and headed home their second goal.
The hosts extended their advantage 11 minutes before the interval. Radoslaw Murawski brought down Pino inside the area, allowing Jorgen Strand Larsen to convert from the penalty spot and register his fourth goal in three matches.
Palace controlled the game after the break despite Lech creating several openings. The Polish champions never seriously threatened a comeback, while an offside decision prevented further embarrassment after Yegbe sent an attempted long-range clearance into his own net.
Lech’s evening worsened late on when Murawski received a second yellow card and was sent off.
Palace then completed the scoring in the 89th minute, with Eddie Nketiah guiding a composed finish into the bottom corner.
The result continued an impressive period in Palace’s history following their FA Cup triumph two seasons ago and last season’s Conference League success. Their first Europa League performance suggested they are capable of competing at the higher level, although Lech contributed heavily to their own problems.
The victory also provided a welcome lift after Palace lost three of their opening four Premier League matches.
Ismaila Sarr added another notable moment by making his first appearance of the season from the bench. His return followed the collapse of a proposed move to Liverpool late in the transfer window, and his introduction drew a mixed reaction from the home crowd.