Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano LIVE!
Crystal Palace are celebrating winning the Conference League. The Eagles lifted their first-ever European trophy at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena on Wednesday night after a second-half goal from Jean-Philippe Mateta was enough to see off the challenge of LaLiga surprise package Rayo Vallecano in a tense final clash. The France striker turned home the rebound five minutes after half-time after an initial shot from the influential Adam Wharton was pushed into his path by goalkeeper Augusto Batalla.
It should have been more comfortable for Palace, though they could not find a second goal as they somehow hit the post three times in a matter of seconds during a remarkable sequence. Rayo made a late push for an equaliser to force extra time in their first major final of any kind, but did not have enough in attack to seriously threaten the Eagles, who made it the perfect farewell for departing manager Oliver Glasner.
The Austrian will leave Selhurst Park when his contract expires this summer, but does so with quite a legacy after guiding a club who had never previously won any major trophies to three inside the space of just 12 months, following last year’s FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs at Wembley.
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano latest news
- Crystal Palace win Conference League in Glasner's final game
- Pino hits BOTH posts with brilliant free-kick
- GOAL! Mateta puts Crystal Palace ahead after break
- Goalless at half-time after huge Mitchell miss
- First half delayed after medical emergency in crowd
Crystal Palace lift Conference League trophy
22:34 , George Flood
Crystal Palace lift the Conference League trophy on an unforgettable night in Leipzig.
Winning the competition gives them direct access into next season’s Europa League league phase, a year on from being controversially demoted from the competition after being found by UEFA to have breached rules around multi-club ownership.
There will be no repeat of that this time!
Pitch invasion at Selhurst Park
22:14 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
Palace supporters are on the pitch.
They have done it, they are Conference League winners.
What a night and what a way to say goodbye to Oliver Glasner.
22:03 , George Flood
Total jubilation among the Crystal Palace players and fans as they celebrate the club’s first-ever European trophy success.
And in their first-ever season in Europe, too! Remarkable.
What a way for Oliver Glasner to bow out after a truly incredible 12 months.
The best manager in Palace’s history? Surely.
Tears in the Rayo crowd and on the pitch.
A cruel finish to their own remarkable European campaign, but they can have no complaints over that result.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:58 , George Flood
Full-time
CRYSTAL PALACE HAVE WON THE CONFERENCE LEAGUE
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:57 , George Flood
95 mins: That will surely be it for Rayo’s hopes as Alemao chests the ball down and pulls a poor shot well wide of the post.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:57 , George Flood
94 mins: Strand Larsen’s clearance leads to a long throw-in by Espino, which is headed clear.
What on earth is Pedro Diaz doing shooting from there?!
He claims it was deflected, but a goal kick is signalled.
Glasner asks how much time is left...
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:55 , George Flood
93 mins: Palace aren’t content just to keep the ball in the corner here as Guessand tries to tee up Sarr, who looked to be having his shirt pulled inside the box.
No penalty.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:55 , George Flood
91 mins: Mitchell and Guessand combine to dispossess Ratiu before the former goes sprinting down the Palace left and into the Rayo box, where he’s met by an important last-ditch challenge by Mendy.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:53 , George Flood
90 mins: FIVE minutes of added time have now been signalled.
Is there a late twist to come in Leipzig?
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:52 , George Flood
89 mins: Canvot wins a cheap free-kick off Alemao as Palace bleed more crucial time off this clock, denying Rayo the chance to fashion another late chance.
There will be a decent amount of stoppage time to come.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:51 , George Flood
87 mins: Rayo deliver a deep free-kick into the box from the right flank, but Lejeune’s header was never troubling Henderson.
The Palace fans are in superb voice with their team closing in on a first-ever European trophy.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:48 , George Flood
84 mins: Strand Larsen holds the ball up well for Palace and is taken down by Mendy, who goes into the book.
Eight yellow cards have now been brandished by referee Maurizio Mariani in this final - five for Rayo.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:46 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
Supporters are on their feet as Mateta makes way. What a turnaround in fortunes for the Palace striker.
He was booed by a section of Palace fans in January when it became clear he wanted to leave the club. He is now on course to deliver their first European trophy.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:45 , George Flood
82 mins: Riad becomes the third Palace player to be booked.
Camello rifles well over from the edge of the box.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:43 , George Flood
80 mins: Pino, on a yellow card, is withdrawn by Glasner with 10 minutes to go.
On comes Aston Villa loanee Evann Guessand.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:42 , George Flood
79 mins: Suddenly all the momentum seems to be with Rayo after those changes.
They are pressing hard for an equaliser, creating panic inside that Palace box as Henderson does well to avert the danger.
The pressure is eased on the Eagles as Lejeune fires well off target from distance.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:41 , George Flood
77 mins: Former Barcelona winger Ilias Akhomach is now on for Rayo.
Off goes Palazon, with Ciss now taking the captain’s armband.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:40 , George Flood
75 mins: Into the final 15 minutes in Leipzig and here comes that Palace change up front.
Larsen for goalscorer Mateta in a straight swap.
What a moment that goal was for Mateta, who will go to the World Cup with France this summer.
His popularity is back on top with the Palace fans after he pushed to leave in January.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:37 , George Flood
74 mins: Pino clips the heels of Palazon - now wearing the captain’s armband for Rayo - and picks up a booking.
This is a good opportunity from the resulting free-kick, though it’s not close from Palazon.
High and wide.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:36 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
Huge cheer as the commentator mentions the 10,000 or so supporters who have turned out to watch the game at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:36 , George Flood
71 mins: An opening at each end as Palace are almost undone by another cross in behind, before Sarr is then nearly in on goal.
Jorgen Strand Larsen’s introduction off the bench is imminent.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:34 , George Flood
70 mins: Two more changes from Rayo with 20 minutes to play in Leipzig - both in attack.
Pacha Espino and Sergio Camello replace Garcia and De Frutos.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:32 , George Flood
Here is that goal to break the deadlock from Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Wharton is certainly not the man to let drift through so easily...
Watch the Eagles soar 🦅
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 27, 2026
Jean-Philippe Mateta with a priceless goal to give Crystal Palace the lead 🔥
📺 TNT Sports and HBO Max pic.twitter.com/ZZ3KZ1wI8D
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:31 , George Flood
65 mins: A warning for Palace not to get too comfortable here as De Frutos gets to the byline and Garcia eventually squeezes an effort into the side netting from an impossible angle.
Good defending from Lacroix in the end.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:28 , George Flood
63 mins: The ever-dangerous Sarr makes his way to the byline before firing into the side netting.
A second Palace goal feels like a mere formality at the moment.
No out ball whatsoever for Rayo, who are shellshocked after that Mateta goal.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:27 , George Flood
62 mins: Garcia takes down Kamada and becomes the fourth Rayo player to enter the referee’s notebook.
Inigo Perez now makes his first changes of the night, sending on Pedro Diaz and Nobel Mendy for Unai Lopez and captain Oscar Valentin.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:24 , George Flood
59 mins: Palace really need to score again during this period of total dominance, roared on by an elated travelling support.
Another dangerous cross to the back post just evades Munoz.
Rayo have to change something here. And fast.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:20 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
The Palace supporters can't believe it as Pino's free-kick comes off both posts.
Agnonising for the Eagles, but they are now firmly on top.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:19 , George Flood
57 mins: Rayo are well and truly rocking now as Palace pour forward again and Batalla makes a crucial stop to deny Mateta a second goal.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:19 , George Flood
56 mins: Remarkable!
Pino’s free-kick hits BOTH posts and the rebound from Mateta also hits the woodwork.
The whistle has gone.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:18 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
Just as I say that and Palace find the breakthrough. Selhurst Park explodes, there is a party atmosphere inside here now.
Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:17 , George Flood
53 mins: All the noise is now coming from those jubilant Palace fans inside the Red Bull Arena.
A couple of rough Rayo challenges lead to cautions for Lopez and Lejeune.
GOAL! Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano | Jean-Philippe Mateta 51'
21:14 , George Flood
51 mins: The deadlock is broken early in the second half!
The influential Wharton saunters forward with the ball unchecked and his low shot is parried by Batalla straight into the path of Mateta, who turns home the rebound first time.
The Palace fans are in dreamland.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:11 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
Even though it is just Palace supporters in here, that has not stopped a portion of the crowd starting up some anti-UEFA and anti-Marinakis chants.
Perhaps a sign of their frustrations right now.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:09 , George Flood
47 mins: A fast start from Palace as Kamada carries the ball forward and releases Mitchell, whose dangerous low cross intended for Mateta is cleared by a sliding Lejeune.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:08 , George Flood
Back underway in Leipzig, no changes from either manager at the break.
Let’s hope for a more entertaining second half...
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:06 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
A rousing half-time team talk to the supporters from ex-Palace midfielder Darren Ambrose has perked everyone up.
As he detailed, it is a sign of how far the club have come since he was a player that they are frustrated at being level in a European cup final.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
21:01 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
Palace supporters head to the bar with that Mitchell chance still fresh in their memories.
In a game of few chances, that was by the far the best opening and Palace should be ahead.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:59 , George Flood
Not a classic so far by any stretch - a very cagey final indeed with no shots on target for either side in that incredibly nervy first half.
Mitchell’s miss from that stunning Wharton cross the big moment in stoppage time.
Palace will pray that they don’t end up ruing that misjudged header...
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:51 , George Flood
Half-time
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:51 , George Flood
49 mins: Rayo are holding out for half-time here as Palace continue to pile on the pressure after Mitchell’s miss.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:49 , George Flood
47 mins: A massive chance for Palace to break the deadlock on the stroke of half-time as Wharton’s terrific cross picks out Mitchell, who steers a header agonisingly wide of the back post.
That should have been 1-0.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:48 , George Flood
45 mins: We will have four minutes of added time at the end of this first half following that medical emergency in the crowd.
Can either side strike before the interval?
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:46 , George Flood
44 mins: Palace are pressing for the opening goal before the break, but the whistle has gone for handball against Munoz as a sliding low cross ricocheted into his hand off the defender.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:45 , George Flood
42 mins: Palace can’t make the most of another corner before Wharton has his name taken for a foul on Palazon.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:44 , George Flood
40 mins: A first well-worked chance of this quiet first half for Rayo, but it’s steered wide from the edge of the box by Unai Lopez.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:42 , George Flood
38 mins: The scoreboard there confirmed that the game had been suspended due to a medical emergency.
We are now back under way after a delay that lasted around three to four minutes.
Our best wishes to the Rayo fan involved.
Batalla did not seem keen to restart, angrily remonstrating with the referee.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:42 , George Flood
38 mins: The scoreboard there confirmed that the game had been suspended due to a medical emergency.
We are now back under way after a delay that lasted around three to four minutes.
Our best wishes to the Rayo fan involved.
Batalla did not seem keen to restart, remonstrating with the referee.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:38 , George Flood
35 mins: Something is going on at the Rayo end of the stadium as goalkeeper Batalla delays the restart and points it out to the referee.
The game is being delayed as the TNT Sports commentary confirm that it’s a medical emergency among the Rayo fans.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:37 , George Flood
33 mins: Sarr was down after being caught while trying to run in behind for Palace, but is quickly back on his feet.
Both Wharton and Mitchell are denied free-kicks as Rayo look to counter at speed, but Lacroix is there to tidy up.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:36 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
The sun has set here and the atmosphere has definitely turned.
Not a lot of noise coming from the Palace supporters.
Frankly, they have not seen anything to get excited about.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:33 , George Flood
29 mins: Closing in on half an hour played in Leipzig and there is absolutely nothing to choose between these two teams at the moment.
It’s really tense, cagey and nervy stuff, with chances and moments of quality at a real premium so far.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:29 , George Flood
26 mins: Crystal Palace now come pouring down their left side and a cross is aimed towards the back post and Munoz, who charges into the defender and gives away a free-kick.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:27 , George Flood
24 mins: Danger for Crystal Palace as Garcia charges down the Rayo left and his cross is steered wide first time by Alemao, who was ahead of Mitchell.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:26 , George Flood
23 mins: Rayo earn a corner and there’s almost a free header for Alemao, but he can’t test Henderson.
Palace look to break quickly and Mitchell is brought down by Rayo captain Valentin, who joins Ciss in the book.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:25 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
Palace supporters are not happy, they feel that should be a red card for Ciss.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:24 , George Flood
20 mins: Wharton releases Pino, who is taken out by Ciss - yellow card.
Palace appealed for red, but there looked to be a defender close enough on the cover.
The Eagles can’t make the most of the free-kick opportunity.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:23 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
It is a bit more nervy in here now. Approaching the 20-minute mark, neither team has stamped their authority on the game.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:21 , George Flood
16 mins: Nervy moments for Crystal Palace as they are almost caught out inside their own box, but they recover to shut the door quickly.
Past the quarter of an hour mark in Leipzig and we await our first chance of this final.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:18 , George Flood
14 mins: The referee wants to sort out some pushing and shoving inside the crowded six-yard box as Crystal Palace prepare to deliver a corner into the Rayo box.
Wharton’s ball from the right is flicked on, but there’s a foul to relieve the pressure on the Spaniards.
Mateta was the one punished I think, but, as usual at set-pieces in the modern game, there were about 10 fouls in there.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:16 , George Flood
10 mins: A promising Palace attack is halted once more before Rayo come into the game with a couple of forays forward.
No effective final ball to speak of yet, though.
A couple of meaty early challenges from both sides, with Wharton and Chavarria on the receiving end.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:10 , George Flood
7 mins: A long Palace throw-in from the left creates initial panic inside the Rayo box, but the whistle has gone for handball.
Rayo have yet to really get a foot on the ball here.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:09 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park viewing party
A positive start from Palace and the supporters here at Selhurst Park are responding.
Every glimpse of goal has been met with a roar of anticipation so far.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:08 , George Flood
5 mins: This has been a nice and positive start from Palace as Mateta pounces on a Ciss error but can’t make the most of the opportunity inside the box.
Valentin’s foul on Pino then gives the Eagles the chance to deliver an early free-kick from a dangerous area.
Rayo stand firm, but they are under early pressure in this final.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
20:04 , George Flood
2 mins: Sarr looks to get in behind the Rayo defence early as Palace start on the front foot and that flare smoke still lingers around the stadium.
Some early defending for Riad to do too at the other end.
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano
20:03 , George Flood
There is plenty of smoke swirling around the Red Bull Arena from flares in the Rayo Vallecano end.
Captains Dean Henderson and Oscar Valentin complete the pre-match formalities and it’s time to get underway.
Maurizio Mariani of Italy is tonight’s referee, with compatriot Marco Di Bello on VAR duty.
Here we go...
Players are out
19:58 , George Flood
Some sensational tifo work from both sets of fans ahead of kick-off in Leipzig.
Here come the teams, after the Conference League trophy is paraded on the pitch.
What a noise!
Rayo Vallecano in first-ever major final
19:46 , George Flood
Rayo’s passionate fans are certainly no shrinking violets either when it comes to bringing the noise.
They are more than up for the club’s first-ever major final of any description.
For all the inevitable focus on Crystal Palace tonight, what a stunning achievement it would be for LaLiga’s underdogs to bring home a European trophy.
Particularly when you consider their budget and oft-derided facilities.
Crystal Palace fans bringing the noise
19:34 , George Flood
Crystal Palace fans are already making quite a noise inside the Red Bull Arena with less than half an hour to go now until kick-off in the Conference League final.
There can’t be a fancy dress shop anywhere near south London with any remaining Eagle-related costumes or masks to sell...
Selhurst Park filling up for live final screening
19:20 , George Flood
Standard Sport’s Sam Tabuteau at Selhurst Park
It is starting to fill up here at Selhurst Park.
More than 10,000 supporters are expected tonight to watch a live screening of Palace in their first European final and the atmosphere is building.
Palace fans young and old are in attendance, with more history potentially beckoning for the Eagles.
Garcia preferred to Pacha for Rayo Vallecano
19:16 , George Flood
Rayo Vallecano boss Inigo Perez makes nine changes to the team that won 2-1 away at Alaves on the last day of the LaLiga campaign to secure another impressive eighth-place finish, having rotated even more heavily than opposite number Oliver Glasner in preparation for this showpiece.
Captain Oscar Valentin and forward Alvaro Garcia are the only players to retain their places.
Otherwise it’s one change to the Rayo team that beat Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg 1-0 in France in the semi-final second leg to wrap up a 2-0 aggregate victory, with Garcia preferred to Pacha Espino.
There is no Carlos Martin or Diego Mendez in the squad, though Isi Palazon is back amid his domestic suspension and Ilias Akhomach makes the bench.
Rayo Vallecano team
19:07 , George Flood
Rayo Vallecano XI: Batalla, Ratiu, Ciss, Lejeune, Chavarria, Lopez, Valentin, Palazon, De Frutos, Alemao, Garcia
Subs: Cardenas, Molina, Pedro, Trejo, Camello, Akhomach, Gumbau, Balliu, Pacha, Mendy
Wharton starts for Crystal Palace with Richards on bench
19:02 , George Flood
So the big news for Crystal Palace is obviously that, as expected, Adam Wharton has quickly shaken off that ankle injury suffered against Arsenal on Sunday to start in Leipzig.
Chris Richards is also fit, as is Borna Sosa, but that duo both begin as substitutes this evening.
Maxence Lacroix, Jaydee Canvot, Tyrick Mitchell, Yeremy Pino and Jean-Philippe Mateta all return to Oliver Glasner’s starting XI after he rotated heavily for the final game of the Premier League season with this final in mind.
Chadi Riad for Richards in the back three is the only change from the Conference League semi-final second-leg win over Shakhtar Donetsk at Selhurst Park on May 7.
Crystal Palace team
18:47 , George Flood
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Riad, Lacroix, Canvot, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Pino, Mateta
Subs: Matthews, Benitez, Clyne, Lerma, Richards, Sosa, Cardines, Hughes, Devenny, Johnson, Guessand, Strand Larsen
Crystal Palace eyeing Europa League spot after demotion controversy
18:42 , George Flood
Speaking of the Europa League, that of course was the competition that Crystal Palace qualified for and thought they would be playing in this term after winning last season’s FA Cup final.
However, they were controversially demoted by UEFA for breaching rules around multi-club ownership and their place instead went to Nottingham Forest, who subsequently reached the semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual winners Aston Villa.
How sweet it would be for Palace tonight to clinch Conference League glory and with it an automatic spot in the league phase of the 2026/27 Europa League.
They would be the third English club to win Europe’s tertiary club competition in the six years since it was first introduced in 2021/22, with West Ham beating Fiorentina in the 2022/23 final in Prague and Chelsea demolishing Real Betis last season in Wroclaw.
The other winners so far were Roma - under Jose Mourinho - and Olympiacos.
Glasner set for final chapter in remarkable Crystal Palace tenure
18:35 , George Flood
Tonight is of course the final game of Oliver Glasner’s remarkable two-year tenure at Crystal Palace, that has already seen the club break their major trophy duck by winning both the FA Cup and Community Shield at Wembley in the space of just three months in 2025 - beating Manchester City and Liverpool, respectively.
Though things briefly turned very sour back in January when Glasner announced that he would be leaving Selhurst Park when his contract expires in the summer amid a dismal run of Premier League form, with some calling for him to be sacked, there is no question whatsoever of the significant standing that the Austrian holds within the club’s history.
Can he further cement that legacy tonight by guiding Palace to their first European silverware?
And what does the future hold for Glasner, with no next job seemingly lined up?
It is worth noting that Glasner knows what it takes to win a major European final as a manager, having guided Eintracht Frankfurt past Rangers on penalties to win the 2021/22 Europa League in Seville.
Palace supporters will be hoping that experience counts for a lot tonight.
Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano fans clash in Leipzig
18:20 , George Flood
Regrettably there was some fan trouble on the eve of the Conference League final in Leipzig, which you can read more about here.
"At approximately 20:00 (19:00 BST), around 300 Rayo Vallecano fans, considered to be at high risk of hooliganism, were gathered in the city centre," read a statement from Saxon State Police on Tuesday night.
"Bottles, beer glasses, and pub furniture were thrown at each other. Physical altercations also occurred.
"Officers on the scene immediately intervened and separated the two groups of fans, checked the identities of more than 300 people, and issued dispersal orders.
"Known troublemakers from Crystal Palace moved to the area of the Penguin Ice Bar and approximately 60 individuals provoked passing Spanish fans and were surrounded by federal police."
Let’s hope for no repeat of those sorts of ugly scenes tonight.
Atmosphere ramping up in Leipzig
18:11 , George Flood
The pre-match atmosphere is building nicely in sunny Leipzig, where Crystal Palace were given a ticket allocation of 13,000 for a stadium that holds 47,800 people.
Plenty more have made the journey out to Saxony in eastern Germany in order to soak up the experience of their club reaching a major European final for the very first time.
More than 10,000 Eagles supporters are also expected at Selhurst Park this evening for an official final viewing party.
Arguably the biggest night in the club’s history could turn out to be a very special occasion indeed.
Conference League final prediction
17:56 , George Flood
This is a game that Crystal Palace know and believe they can win.
Just 90 minutes now stands between them and a maiden European honour, and it would further cement Oliver Glasner’s place in the club’s history books forever.
They have the firepower, they have the quality, and they have the belief.
Rayo have done superbly to get to this stage and won’t be pushovers, but Palace are favourites for a reason.
Crystal Palace to win, 3-1.
Rayo Vallecano team news
17:51 , George Flood
Forward Carlos Martin should be fit for Rayo Vallecano tonight after the Atletico Madrid loanee returned to training swiftly, having gone off with a back injury after just 38 minutes of Saturday’s final-day 2-1 win away at Alaves in LaLiga.
Rayo boss Inigo Perez is also hoping that Moroccan winger Ilias Akhomach and midfielder Diego Mendez are fit, while Isi Palazon is available despite serving a seven-match suspension in LaLiga.
However, Brazilian centre-back Luiz Felipe is definitely sidelined.
Crystal Palace team news
17:42 , George Flood
Crystal Palace’s chief injury concerns ahead of the final have involved Adam Wharton and Chris Richards.
Wharton limped off in the second half of Sunday’s Premier League finale against Arsenal with an ankle knock, having only been introduced at the break, while Richards missed the game entirely with his own ankle injury.
"I don't want to tell you yet if they can start or not,” Oliver Glasner said of the duo at yesterday’s pre-match press conference in Leipzig.
"But they were available today in training and that's a good sign.
“We still have 36 hours before the game and the medical department will work hard [to get them ready].
“They will work hard until late into the night.
"At the end of the day, we will nominate the starting XI who are 100 per cent fit.”
It has since been reported that both Wharton and Richards are expected to start this evening.
Long-term absentees Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure remain out for Palace, while left-back Borna Sosa is still a doubt.
How to watch Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano
17:36 , George Flood
TV channel: In the UK, tonight’s Conference League final will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 6.30pm BST.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the final live online via the HBO Max app and website.
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano live
17:32 , George Flood
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s live coverage of Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano in the 2025/26 Conference League final.
After Aston Villa’s rousing win over Freiburg in the Europa League showpiece last week, and with Arsenal taking on holders Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Saturday night, this the second of three instalments of English teams reaching all major European finals - the first time that has ever happened in the same season.
Palace are favourites to overcome Rayo in Leipzig tonight and complete a fairytale 12 months with a first major European trophy to end Oliver Glasner’s incredible tenure, having already lifted both the FA Cup and Community Shield in the last 12 months.
For Rayo, Madrid’s third club, it is a first major final of any kind as they continue to defy the odds both in Spain and on the continent.
Kick-off at the Red Bull Arena is at 8pm BST, so stay with us for match build-up, team news and live game updates.
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