Report & Highlights: Mateta downs Rayo to crown Palace UEFA Conference League winners

After a long road to Leipzig, a single goal was always likely to settle a tight and tense UEFA Conference League Final – and it came from the boot of Mateta after Adam Wharton’s rising drive was spilled by the Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper.

Chances were few and far between but Palace’s impressive defensive form – at the fore of their excellent debut European run – saw them become the first club to win the trophy in their debut continental campaign since 1979.

Summary:

• Palace take on Rayo in both sides’ first-ever European Final – and Oliver Glasner’s last game in charge.
• History beckons for the Eagles at the end of their first-ever continental campaign.
• One enforced change for Palace from previous European game: Chadi Riad replaces the injured Chris Richards in the backline.
• 10: Top scorer Sarr threatens twice in the opening minutes as Eagles make encouraging start.
• 20: A cagey opening to the Final almost explodes but Pino is felled in promising position; the referee opts for a Rayo yellow card.
• 25: Rayo’s Alemão has the clearest early chance, but hooks wide from García’s delivery.
• 30: De Frutos bends a low effort beyond Henderson’s bottom corner as Rayo grow into the contest.
• 45+3: Wharton teases a delightful ball in but Mitchell, diving onto it, cannot direct on target.
• HT: Palace 0-0 Rayo Vallecano
• No changes at the break.
• 51 – GOAL: Mateta reacts sharpest to guide home the opener after Wharton’s drive is saved.
• 55 – OFF THE POST, THRICE!: Pino hits both posts before Vallecano’s defender hits the woodwork again trying to clear.
• 57: Mateta is denied by a stunning-close range save by Batalla from Pino’s lay-off.
• 60: Pino bends it in and a Rayo defender attacks it ahead of Muñoz.
• 68: De Frutos hits the side-netting for Rayo from a tight angle after García’s sharp dribble.
• 76: Palazón curls free-kick over the bar as Rayo seek a late equaliser.
• 77: Mateta leaves the field of play to a standing ovation from Palace supporters.
• 79: Brilliant Henderson goalkeeping and Muñoz defending keeps Eagles in the lead.
• 90: Palace manage the remainder of the 90 well, with five added minutes signalled.
• 90+1: Mitchell makes a fine clearing header under pressure, before seeing an effort blocked.
• FT: Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano
• CRYSTAL PALACE WIN THE 2025/26 UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE!

“Once again, we are 90 minutes from history,” Oliver Glasner stated, ahead of his last-ever match as Crystal Palace Manager – and the club’s first-ever European Final. He was right.

The Eagles’ long journey to the UEFA Conference League – a reward for their heroics in the FA Cup a year ago – had seen the club experience the highest of highs and, as is so often the case in football, a few low points, as well.

But at the end of 90 minutes at Leipzig Stadium, all those who had travelled, or were watching, from South London – and the millions of other Palace fans around the world – could feel was ecstasy.

Let's go back to the beginning, then.

The Eagles were forced to make one change to the side which had started their previous European game at home to Shakhtar Donetsk: Chris Richards, injured against Brentford, was replaced in the starting XI by Chadi Riad as a result of that ankle ailment.

After a glorious day of sunshine, South London spirt – and memories created in Leipzig which, simply put, will last a lifetime – a stunning pre-match supporter display reminded the watching world that Palace pride is generational.

In front of 39,176 supporters, the match started to a cacophony of noise from both North and South sides of the ground – a token of the two fanbases’ mutual respect, and the role they had played in roaring their teams to Leipzig in the first place.

Palace made the early running and, just as they had done in Krakow, looked to play in competition top scorer Sarr in the opening seconds – Rayo succeeded where Shakhtar failed, snuffing out the attack at the last.

Despite the Eagles applying plenty of early pressure, it took 10 minutes for Sarr’s first real opportunity to arrive; Pino attempted to play him in, but as the ball took a deflection off a covering defender, Sarr cut in on his left – only to see his shot blocked.

Rayo’s first real attack took longer to arrive – 16 minutes, precisely, as Alvaro Garcia seized on a loose ball at the back and delivered a threatening low cross which Maxence Lacroix duly stabbed away.

On 20 minutes, the first real flashpoint. Palace’s early danger had stemmed from quick balls played in behind and Pino appeared, momentarily, to have escaped Pathé Ciss – the Rayo defender misjudging the ball’s bounce, and hooking the Palace No. 10’s leg. Over Pino went – but referee Maurizio Mariani deemed it worthy of just a caution.

With both teams known for their defensive diligence – level on five clean sheets each going into the Final – clear chances were always likely to prove scarce.

And in truth, the first big one went Rayo’s way on 25 minutes: a low ball in from Pep Chavarría found Alemão – who had scored in both legs of the Spaniards’ semi-final – having peeled off his marker, but he thankfully could not direct between the posts.

Slowly but surely, the Spaniards were growing into the game – and Jorge de Frutos was next to go close in threatening Dean Henderson’s bottom-left hand corner with a first-time effort, but the bending effort was thankfully initially set out too wide.

But, with neither side really creating much, Palace were still more consistently entering their opponents’ final third – and on the stroke of half-time, they had a golden opportunity to take a priceless lead.

Adam Wharton, top creator for the Eagles in terms of assists this season, was the architech, a delightful in-swinging cross being met by Tyrick Mitchell in full-flight.

Heading it back across Rayo ‘keeper Augusto Batalla, the No. 3 – with all his momentum behind it – could not direct within the far post.

And so the half-time whistle sounded, an admittedly tetchy first-half goalless at the break.

But as Palace have learned well in this last year, to earn history, you have to be able to simply move forward. The Eagles’ start to the second-half was nothing short of sensational.

And when Jean-Philippe Mateta carved his name into the history books in front of the travelling wall of red and blue in the South end of the stadium, there was not quite a noise to be found elsewhere like it.

Wharton was the architect once more, collecting the ball in midfield, turning and driving towards the area, before firing a rising 30-yard effort which was too hot for Batalla to handle.

Reacting sharply, Mateta stuck out the side of his foot – and up the ball looped, agonisingly, no pace, but completely the right direction, over the goalline. Corner flag flying, euphoria in tandem, we were on our way.

But Palace seemed like a team possessed in that 15-minute spell of the game, and Yéremy Pino was somehow denied by both posts with a sumptuous free-kick which hit both ends of the woodwork.

A goalmouth scramble ensued, Riad getting something on it – before a Rayo defender, diving in to stop Mateta from prodding home, appeared to divert the ball onto the woodwork again.

And three minutes later, Pino was at it again, a lovely lay-off for Mateta seeing the forward denied at close range by Batalla, who spread himself well to turn it round the post.

Finals can be defined by swings of momentum, and Palace have certainly enjoyed a hefty shift of it in their direction.

But the more cagey nature of the game resumed after the hour mark, as Rayo boss Iñigo Pérez made a raft of substitutions to try to inspire a greater cutting edge from his well-drilled side.

De Frutos reacted well to get a shot goalwards from a tight angle, after the ball had popped up to him, but found only side-netting. Not long after, Isi Palazón’s free-kick from 25 yards cleared the crossbar.

Rayo were seeing some joy in the wide areas, and only some fine goalkeeping from Henderson – to spread himself big in the face of Garcia – and a brave last-ditch header from Muñoz repelled the Spaniards’ next two attacks.

But the belief, just as it had been at Wembley a year ago, all belonged to Palace, and they saw through the 90 minutes – and five additional time – without too much incident, save for one fine late header by – who else? – Tyrick Mitchell.

There was even a moment with echoes of Jeremy Doku’s dragged shot for Manchester City at the end, as Alemão snatched at a late opportunity on the edge of the box.

This was our night.

To the trophy, we were on our way.

How did we get here? I don’t know.

All we knew – players, staff, supporters alike – was that Palace were on their way.

Palace: Henderson (GK), Riad, Lacroix, Canvot, Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Sarr, Pino (Guessand, 80), Mateta (Strand Larsen, 77).

Subs: Matthews (GK), Benítez (GK), Clyne, Lerma, Richards, Sosa, Cardines, Hughes, Devenny, Johnson.

Rayo Vallecano: Batalla (GK), Ratiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarría, Valentín (Mendy, 63), López (Díaz, 63), de Frutos (Camello, 70), Palazón (Akhomach, 77), García (Espino, 70), Alemão.

Subs: Cárdenas (GK), Molina (GK), Balliu, Trejo, Gumbau.

As It Happened