Crystal Palace win the Conference League for the first time.

By defeating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 thanks to a goal from Mateta, Crystal Palace won their first-ever European title.

Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano entered the 2025-2026 UEFA Conference League final with great determination, as both saw it as a crucial opportunity to secure a place in European competition next season. The match unfolded at a high pace from the opening minutes, with both sides proactively playing an attacking game rather than the cautious approach many had predicted.

The match was fast-paced and the atmosphere was tense right from the opening minutes.

Crystal Palace created the first notable opportunity. The English side consistently exploited the space on both flanks with their speed and strong pressing. However, the London team's strikers lacked accuracy in their final shots.

On the opposite side, Rayo Vallecano opted for a physically demanding style of play to curb their opponent's momentum. The La Liga representatives received two yellow cards early in the first half after aggressive fouls in the midfield area. Despite this, the Spanish team still created some dangerous counter-attacks. Most notably, Alemao broke through and took a shot, but his attempt was inaccurate in a one-on-one situation.

Towards the end of the first half, Crystal Palace nearly took the lead after a dangerous aerial duel from Tyrick Mitchell. The English defender leaped to head the ball from close range following a precise cross from the right wing, but the ball narrowly missed the post, leaving Palace fans disappointed.

In the second half, Crystal Palace significantly increased the pressure and quickly found the opening goal. In the 51st minute, Adam Wharton unleashed a powerful long-range shot that forced the Vallecano goalkeeper to parry the ball away. Immediately, Jean-Philippe Mateta was in the right place at the right time to tap in the rebound from close range, giving the Premier League side a 1-0 lead.