Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano will battle for European glory on Wednesday night in Leipzig as both clubs look to make history in the UEFA Conference League final at the Red Bull Arena.
The Eagles arrive in Germany hoping to secure the first European trophy in club history after overcoming Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals, while Rayo Vallecano edged past Strasbourg to reach the biggest match in the Spanish club’s 101-year existence.
Despite struggling during the league phase and finishing 10th, Palace have emerged as one of the competition’s standout teams in the knockout rounds. Oliver Glasner’s side eliminated Zrinjski Mostar, AEK Larnaca, Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk on their path to the final, scoring a competition-leading 25 goals along the way.
However, Palace’s domestic form dipped after sealing their place in the final. The London side failed to win any of their final four Premier League matches and ended the campaign in 15th place following a 2-1 defeat against newly crowned champions Arsenal who ended a 22-year wait to reclaim the league crown.
![Arsenal End Title-Winning Campaign With 2-1 Victory Over Crystal Palace [photo credit: arsenal media]](https://www.softfootball.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/HJGXxlGXQAEZQg2-819x1024.jpeg)
Ahead of the final, Crystal Palace’s official X account built anticipation by posting “Ready for a European final” as supporters prepare for the club’s first-ever UEFA final appearance. Fans flooded the replies with travel plans to Germany and messages backing Oliver Glasner’s energetic, high-pressing side in what could become the greatest night in Palace history.
Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, narrowly missed out on European qualification through La Liga after finishing one point behind Getafe. As a result, victory in Leipzig now represents their only route back into European competition next season.
Inigo Perez’s men head into the final in excellent form, unbeaten in their last nine matches across all competitions. They sealed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves on the final day of La Liga thanks to Randy Nketa’s stoppage-time winner, adding further momentum ahead of Wednesday’s showdown.
While Palace possess attacking firepower through Conference League top scorer Ismaila Sarr, Rayo’s resilience and impressive unbeaten run ensure the final promises to be fiercely contested.
Team News
Crystal Palace are monitoring Adam Wharton after the midfielder suffered an ankle issue during the defeat against Arsenal, although the injury is not believed to be serious.
Chris Richards and Borna Sosa remain doubts, while Cheick Doucoure and Eddie Nketiah are ruled out for the final.
Ismaila Sarr enters the match in outstanding form after scoring in each of his last five Conference League appearances and leading the competition scoring charts with nine goals.
Rayo Vallecano could be without Carlos Martin after the winger picked up a back injury against Deportivo Alaves. Luiz Felipe is ruled out for the season, while Ilias Akhomach and Diego Mendez remain doubts.
Isi Palazon is available despite serving a domestic suspension and is expected to play an important role alongside Alemao, who scored both goals across the semi-final victories over Strasbourg.
Possible Lineups
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Riad, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Pino
Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:
Batalla; Ratiu, Mendy, Lejeune, Chavarria; Ciss, Valentin; De Frutos, Palazon, Espino; Alemao
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport network |
| Live Stream | DStv Now app |
| Kick-off Time | 20:00 (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Crystal Palace 2-1 Rayo Vallecano.
Crystal Palace’s attacking quality and experience against strong European opposition may give them a slight edge, but Rayo Vallecano’s unbeaten momentum could make this an extremely tight contest.
