Palace and Rayo Vallecano Advance to Europa Conference League Final
Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano advanced to the UEFA Europa Conference League final after prevailing in their semi-final second legs on May 8, 2026. The English club overcame Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at Selhurst Park to win 5-2 on aggregate while the Spanish side defeated Strasbourg 1-0 to progress 2-0 overall. The final between the two teams is scheduled for May 27 at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, according to Qatar News Agency.
The second leg at Selhurst Park saw Crystal Palace take the lead through an own goal by Pedro Henrique in the 25th minute. Ismaila Sarr extended the advantage with a strike in the 52nd minute before De Souza Lemos replied for Shakhtar Donetsk in the 34th minute. Palace had already established a 3-1 advantage in the first leg on April 30 in Ukraine, ESPN match reports indicated. The result sent the Premier League side into their first European final.
Ismaila Sarr proved instrumental across both legs of the semi-final for Crystal Palace. The Senegalese forward scored in each match to take his tally to nine goals in the competition. ESPN figures show that his first-leg opener was the quickest goal recorded in the tournament’s history. Sarr’s form has been central to Palace’s progress during only their second European campaign.
Rayo Vallecano claimed a 1-0 win in the second leg at Strasbourg with a goal from Alexandre Alemão in the 42nd minute. The La Liga club had secured an identical 1-0 scoreline in the first leg at home on April 30. Their defensive record across the tie saw them concede no goals while advancing to the final, according to UEFA.com coverage. The victory marked a notable milestone for the Madrid-based team in continental competition.
Both clubs qualified for the final during their maiden appearances in a UEFA showpiece event and in only their second continental campaigns overall, UEFA.com reported. Crystal Palace from England’s top division and Rayo Vallecano from Spain’s La Liga have each navigated challenging paths through the 2025-26 edition. The matchup will feature two clubs that have rarely featured in Europe’s latter stages prior to this season.
The UEFA Conference League, formerly known as the Europa Conference League, features a 36-team league phase before knockout ties, according to governing body statistics. It offers a route into European competition for clubs outside the Champions League and Europa League brackets. Victors of the final earn a place in the following season’s Europa League league phase, per official regulations. The format has enabled several underdog stories in its short history.
UEFA selected the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig as the neutral venue for the final, as outlined on the organisation’s website. The stadium holds a capacity of around 42,000 and has previously staged other European fixtures. Organisers have noted the choice aligns with the rotation of host cities for the competition’s climax.
