Crystal Palace Edge Rayo Vallecano, Win Historic UEFA Conference League Title
May 27, 2026
Crystal Palace on Wednesday beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig to win their first European trophy in the club’s history.
France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta turned in a rebound early in the second half to send departing manager Oliver Glasner out in style and dash Rayo’s own hopes of their first major trophy.
Players of Crystal Palace FC team celebrate after winning the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP)
Crystal Palace’s Spanish midfielder #10 Yeremy Pino (R) and Crystal Palace’s Norwegian striker #22 Jorgen Strand Larsen celebrate after winning the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP)
Crystal Palace’s players celebrate their victory at the end of the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in Leipzig, Germany, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
Crystal Palace’s French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta reacts as he poses in front of the trophy after winning the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP)
Crystal Palace’s Austrian manager Oliver Glasner acknowledges the crowd after his team won the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP)
Fans react as they watch a live broadcast of the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano, at Boxpark Croydon in London, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by Henry Nicholls / AFP)
Rayo Vallecano’s players react on the pitch after the UEFA Conference League final football match between Crystal Palace FC and Rayo Vallecano de Madrid in Leipzig, Germany, on May 27, 2026. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP)
