Crystal Palace edged Spanish side Rayo Vallecano 1-0, courtesy of Jean-Philippe Mateta’s strike, to win the UEFA Conference League final in Leipzig on Wednesday to secure the club’s first European trophy in their history.
After a cagey opening half with few clear chances, Mateta turned in a rebound for the game’s only goal in the 51st minute, sending departing coach Oliver Glasner off in style.
Glasner departs with a third trophy in two years as Palace manager, the most successful period in the club’s history, after dashing Rayo’s hopes of landing their first major silverware.
Crystal Palace midfielder, Adam Wharton stated in the post match interview session with TNT sports that Oliver Glasner has made an incredible difference in the club in just two and half years.
“Three trophies, including the club’s first-ever European competition and victory.
“He has to be among the best managers Palace has ever had, and he has significantly changed the way the team views competitions now. We want to win.”
The triumph also fulfilled Glasner’s goal of getting Palace back into the Europa League, which they qualified for this season before being demoted to the Conference League due to multi-club ownership regulations.
The Austrian, who won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, demonstrated his skill in knockout tournaments once more.
Palace overcame the sales of key players Eberechi Eze and Marc Guéhi this season, as well as the aftermath of the latter’s January transfer to Manchester City, to finish their first complete season in European competition with a title.
The night’s hero, French striker Mateta, was on the verge of departing Palace for AC Milan this winter due to a failed medical.
Mateta remarked, “I feel fantastic. We succeeded for the first time in Europe! Right now, all I want to do is party and celebrate.”
Palace became the third London team to win the competition in consecutive years, after West Ham in 2024 and Chelsea in 2025, proving the Premier League’s unrivalled financial might.
Premier League winners Arsenal can complete a sweep in European competition by defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final on Saturday, as Aston Villa has already secured the Europa League title.
