Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano – News and Probable Lineups

The Premier League and La Liga meet once again in the Conference League final on Wednesday, as Crystal Palace takes on Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, aiming for the third-tier title.

The Eagles overcame Shakhtar Donetsk in the semi-finals to secure their spot in the final while Rayo Vallecano eliminated Strasbourg, getting within 90 minutes of their first significant trophy.

Match overview

Familiar with the spotlight of European competitions, having guided Eintracht Frankfurt to victory over Rangers in the 2022 Europa League final, Glasner could potentially lead Crystal Palace to success on a high note – at least in this context.

Although the 51-year-old’s relationship with the club’s management has been less than ideal in recent months, he is now just one match away from securing his third major title within a year, following the FA Cup and Community Shield victories in 2025.

Even after a complicated journey to the knockout stages – finishing 10th in the league phase – Palace has demonstrated the Premier League’s prowess alongside Arsenal and Aston Villa, as English teams strive to capture all three European trophies for the first time in history.

The Eagles have eliminated Zrinjski Mostar, AEK Larnaca, Fiorentina, and Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League, boasting an impressive 25 goals – 14 of which were scored during the knockout rounds, an unmatched total.

However, Glasner’s side was unable to secure victories in any of their four league matches following their second-leg win against Shakhtar, most recently losing 2-1 to champions Arsenal, ending the season in a disappointing 15th place in the Premier League table.

Rayo Vallecano, meanwhile, did not let their Conference League commitments hinder their La Liga aspirations, falling just short of a top-seven finish and ending one point behind Getafe in the Conference League playoff spot.

Consequently, a victory in Leipzig is crucial for Rayo Vallecano to secure a return to European competition next season, which would be only their second appearance in the Europa League/UEFA Cup since the 2000-01 season.

Unlike Palace, Los Franjirrojos enjoyed a straightforward path into the Conference League knockout stage, thanks to their fifth-place finish in the league phase. However, their victories in the last-16 and quarter-finals were more stressful than anticipated.

In both instances, Perez’s team won the first leg but lost the second; they showed resilience in the semi-finals against Strasbourg, achieving 1-0 wins both home and away to reach their inaugural European final.

Furthermore, Rayo Vallecano’s last defeat in any competition was a 3-1 loss in the quarter-final second leg against AEK Athens; they arrive at the Red Bull Arena unbeaten in their last nine matches, winning six of those encounters.

On the final day of La Liga, Los Franjirrojos secured a 2-1 victory against Deportivo Alaves thanks to a last-minute goal from Randy Nketa, setting them up well for what is the biggest night in their 101-year history.

Team News

Glasner’s choice to substitute Adam Wharton at halftime against Arsenal did not go as planned, as the Inglaterra international lasted only 16 minutes before being taken off due to an ankle injury, which is believed to be minor.

Wharton is likely to be available for the final, but Chris Richards (ankle) and Borna Sosa (unspecified) remain more serious concerns, while Cheick Doucoure (unspecified) and Eddie Nketiah (thigh) will miss the match.

The absence of the latter should not be overly detrimental, given the impressive form of Ismaila Sarr, who has scored in each of his last five Conference League matches and currently leads the competition’s scoring charts with nine goals.

Rayo Vallecano also faced a setback on the final day of the domestic season, as winger Carlos Martin was substituted after 38 minutes against Deportivo Alaves due to a back injury, leaving his participation for Wednesday in doubt.

Ilias Akhomach (quad) and Diego Mendez (unspecified) share a similar uncertain status, while Luiz Felipe (muscle) is ruled out for the remainder of the season. Fortunately, Isi Palazon is available despite a seven-game domestic ban.

Palazon has contributed three goals in the Conference League this season, just one less than leading continental scorer Alemao, who scored both goals across the two semi-final legs against Strasbourg.

Crystal Palace probable starting XI:

Henderson; Riad, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Pino

Rayo Vallecano probable starting XI:

Battle; Ratiu, Mendy, Lejeune, Chavarria; Ciss, Valentin; Of Frutos, Palazon, Thorn; German

Though Vallecano may have concluded the domestic season in better form than Crystal Palace, Premier League clubs have consistently demonstrated their superiority over their continental rivals in all three European competitions this season.

With Conference League specialist Sarr and 15-goal forward Jean-Philippe Mateta leading the charge, Palace has our full confidence to shine in Leipzig and conclude the Glasner era on a high note.