Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano preview: Team news, line-ups, where to watch the Conference League final
Preview, team news, head-to-head, probable line ups, tactical analysis and where to watch Wednesday’s Conference League final between Palace and Rayo
A new European champion will be crowned on Wednesday night, as Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano face off in the Conference League final at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, with kick-off scheduled for 20:00 BST (21:00 CET).
Palace qualified for their maiden European campaign by winning their first ever FA Cup last season and, although administrative errors saw them drop from the Europa League to the Conference League, that is no longer in the minds of Eagles fans as they now lie one game away from lifting a continental trophy.
It is no less of a fairytale for Rayo either, who are embarking on just their second ever European campaign after making the UEFA Cup quarter finals in 2000/01. The modest club from the suburbs of Madrid have enjoyed a fabulous season domestically, finishing eighth in LaLiga, equalling their best ever finish.
While the clubs have similarly humble reputations in Europe, that’s not the case when comparing the managers. Palace’s Oliver Glasner won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021/22, defeating Rangers in a penalty shootout.
Rayo’s Iñigo Pérez, on the other hand, is in just his second full season in management. Having worked as Andoni Iraola’s assistant, Pérez was supposed to join him at Bournemouth in the Premier League, only to be denied a work permit. That turned out to be a blessing for Rayo, who handed him the head coach role in February 2024, and has since gone on to work wonders for the club.
Team news & injury updates
Crystal Palace
Palace head into the game with concerns over two key players. USMNT defender Chris Richards has been a pivotal figure at the heart of their defence this season, but is a serious doubt for the final after tearing ligaments in his ankle. Glasner rested him in the final Premier League match of the season against Arsenal and is hoping the 26-year-old will be able to play a part on Wednesday.
Key central midfielder Adam Wharton is also a doubt after picking up an ankle injury against Arsenal. In more positive news for Palace, defenders Maxence Lacroix and Chadi Riad appear to be fine after coming through the last match unscathed.
Rayo Vallecano
Former Barcelona academy player Ilias Akhomach is a big concern for Rayo, having picked up an injury in the warm-up prior to the semi-final second-leg against Strasbourg. The Spaniards are boosted, however, by the return to action of veteran forward Álvaro García, who has scored five goals in eight European appearances this season.
Head-to-head (H2H) record
Quite remarkably, not only have Palace and Rayo never met in a competitive clash before but neither have faced a side from Spain or England respectively.
Crystal Palace’s route to the final:
Rayo Vallecano’s route to the final:
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano probable line-ups
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Clyne, Lacroix, Canvot; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla; Rațiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarría; Óscar Valentín, López, Isi Palazón, García, De Frutos; Alemão
Where to watch Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano
In the United Kingdom, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. As for Ireland, the match will be broadcast live on Premier Sports 1 and TNT Sports 1, with streaming access available via HBO Max (in the UK) and NOW or the Premier Player (in Ireland) at 20:00 BST on Wednesday, 27 May 2026.
Match prediction probabilities
Crystal Palace are considered favourites to secure continental silverware at the Red Bull Arena, with Oliver Glasner’s European pedigree giving them a calculated 51% win probability. Rayo Vallecano face an uphill battle with a 23% chance of pulling off an upset, while the probability of a draw stands at 26%.
