UEFA Conference League Final LIVE: Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano – Score, Radio Commentary, Text Updates and Match Stats
Crystal Palace ended a difficult season in unforgettable fashion, as Oliver Glasner signed off in style and strengthened his status as one of the club’s greatest managers. Palace, who had never won a major trophy before last season’s FA Cup triumph over Manchester City, have now collected two major honours in two seasons after this latest success. They also lifted the Community Shield by defeating Liverpool, underlining a remarkable rise under Glasner’s leadership.
This season’s achievement was made even more impressive by the departures of two key players. Eberechi Eze was sold to Arsenal last summer, while captain Marc Guehi joined Manchester City in January. Despite those losses, Palace remained competitive and resilient, showing the depth of Glasner’s influence and the strength of the squad’s collective belief.
One of the biggest beneficiaries of the Austrian coach’s arrival has been Jean-Philippe Mateta. Before Glasner took charge in February 2024, Mateta had scored 11 goals in 80 games for Palace. Since then, he has scored 46 times in 110 matches, transforming into one of the team’s most important attacking figures. His importance in this final was highlighted by the fact that a knee problem had previously blocked a move to AC Milan, and that setback ultimately proved to be a major advantage for Palace. Mateta put the disappointment of that failed transfer behind him, won back the support of the fans, and also earned a place in France’s World Cup squad.
Adam Wharton also played a key role in Palace’s victory. His shot helped create the decisive moment, and he controlled possession with maturity throughout the match. The performance came just a week after the disappointment of missing out on England’s World Cup squad, giving him a strong response on the biggest stage.
Palace had chances to make the contest more comfortable, but they did enough to protect their lead and finish the game with relative control. At full-time, celebrations erupted as the club reached the end of its 60th match in a demanding and often frustrating campaign.
The season had been far from straightforward. Palace were forced to drop from the Europa League into Europe’s third-tier competition because of ownership-related issues. They also suffered a shocking FA Cup exit to non-league Macclesfield and finished 15th in the Premier League, a league position that reflected the difficulty of the campaign.
Yet none of those setbacks will matter now. This victory guarantees Palace Europa League football next season and secures another place in Europe for the club. Palace have now become the second English side to win a European trophy this season, following Europa League winners Aston Villa. Arsenal will now try to complete an unprecedented English treble of European success when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Saturday’s Champions League final.
