Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano: Jean-Philippe Mateta 51
A fitting farewell from Crystal Palace for Oliver Glasner then, a manager who can now lay claim to being the most successful coach in the club’s history. In 2024 he arrived to save the club from relegation.
In 2025 he won the FA Cup, the first major trophy in their history. And here in 2026 at Leipzig he completed the trifecta, guiding them to their first European trophy after they defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to secure the Conference League.
There was also a sense of justice here as Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half strike proved decisive to seal continental glory. Palace had qualified for the Europa League but were demoted at the start of this season on the argument that they violated multi-club ownership rules. Palace claimed they had been unduly denied and here there was double joy, their triumph not only delivering the club’s first continental trophy but also restoring them to their rightful place in next season’s Europa League.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/O1px6DMrny
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 27, 2026
Palace entered the match as favourites but struggled to impose themselves during a tense and scrappy opening period. Rayo, also contesting the first European final in their history, looked sharper and more composed in possession. Palace’s reshuffled defence, with young Frenchman Jaydee Canvot filling in for the injured Chris Richards, was repeatedly tested down the flanks.
The Spanish side created the better chances before the break and Palace heaved a sigh of relief when Isi Palazon’s dangerous delivery found Alemao unmarked inside the box but the forward failed to hit the target.
Unai Lopez then curled narrowly wide after another flowing Rayo move as Palace laboured to create openings of their own.
Their best moment of the half arrived deep into stoppage time when Adam Wharton delivered a superb cross for Tyrick Mitchell, only for the wing-back to send his close-range header off target. Glasner walked down the tunnel frustrated, knowing his side had been second best.
But the Eagles came back out with far greater urgency and aggression, pinning Rayo back almost immediately. Mateta threatened first when he narrowly failed to connect with Mitchell’s cross before the breakthrough finally arrived moments later.
Wharton surged through midfield and fired a low effort that goalkeeper Augusto Batalla could only push into danger. Mateta reacted instinctively, keeping his composure to slam the rebound into the roof of the net before racing away to kick the corner flag in his trademark celebration.
What a moment 🥹 pic.twitter.com/nvB4yVPiIB
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 27, 2026
The goal ignited Palace. Yeremy Pino almost doubled the lead seconds later when his curling free kick rattled both posts. Mateta then struck the woodwork again from the rebound as Rayo clung on, Batalla producing another excellent save to deny the France forward from close range.
Rayo threw on attacking reinforcements in a desperate search for an equaliser but Palace’s defence nous under Glasner is well known. Maxence Lacroix marshalled the back line superbly as wave after wave of late pressure was repelled. When the final whistle sounded, it was heartbreak for Rayo, but pure euphoria for Glasner and Palace.
