Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano: UEFA Conference League final reaction as Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal seals first European trophy
UEFA Conference League / Final
Red Bull Arena / 27.05.2026
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- J. Mateta(51')
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Updated 27/05/2026 at 23:57 GMT+1
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PALACE SEAL FIRST EUROPEAN TROPHY AS MATETA GOAL DOWNS RAYO
Crystal Palace defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Oliver Glasner’s final game in charge to clinch the UEFA Conference League.
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s close-range strike in the second half was enough to brush the La Liga outfit aside as The Eagles claimed their first European trophy and subsequently, UEFA Europa League qualification.
In what was an even first-half in Leipzig, Tyrick Mitchell had a golden chance to put Palace ahead with a free header in the six-yard box from Adam Wharton’s pinpoint cross on the stroke of half-time, but guided his effort wide.
That only seemed to spur Palace on, who continued their electric start to the second half as Mateta prodded home from a few yards out to break the deadlock and send the travelling fans into ecstasy.
That sparked a dominant five-minute spell from the south Londoners, as Yeremi Pino crashed a free-kick off the post, and then another post, before Mateta struck the woodwork on the rebound.
Rayo, playing in their first-ever major final - not just in Europe - pushed hard to get back into the game, but they lacked firepower as Palace held firm to clinch the trophy - their second in as many years.
Palace's Emirates FA Cup triumph last year ended a 119-year wait for a major trophy, and Glasner's side backed it up with success in their first European campaign.
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Highlights: Palace clinch European glory in perfect farewell for Glasner
Video credit: TNT Sports
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WHAT A MOMENT!
Glasner pulls out one of his belly slides to celebrate Palace's triumph!
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Glasner pulls out trademark belly slide in wild Conference League celebrations
Video credit: TNT Sports
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MORE PALACE REACTION
Chris Richards didn't manage to get on the pitch tonight, but he was delighted to help deliver Glasner his fairytale ending before heading to the World Cup with the USA.
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NINE PL CLUBS IN EUROPE NEXT SEASON
Confirmation of Palace's victory means that there will be nine Premier League clubs playing European football next campaign - that's 45% of the division!
Champions League: Arsenal, Man City, Man Utd, Aston Villa, Liverpool
Europa League: Bournemouth, Sunderland, Crystal Palace
Conference League: Brighton
If Arsenal win the UEFA Champions League final against PSG on Saturday - live on TNT Sports and HBO Max - it would be a European treble for the Premier League thanks to Villa's Europa League triumph and Palace's success tonight.
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GLASNER IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE?
Glenn Hoddle thinks so!
The TNT Sports pundit feels that the Austrian should be managing at the highest level following his Palace departure...
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'Instant respect' - Hoddle believes Glasner is Champions League-level manager
Video credit: TNT Sports
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ANOTHER EUROPEAN TROPHY FOR GLASNER
After picking up the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, four years later, he's added a second European trophy to his collection after leading Palace to a historic Conference League triumph.
Only one trophy eludes him to complete the European set... He couldn't, could he?
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'I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS MY LAST GAME' - GLASNER
Glanser speaks to TNT Sports about his decision to step down as Palace boss, but feels that better days are ahead for the club.
It's a good chapter to read in the Crystal Palace book, but other chapters will follow.
"It's the same, I said to the players, get what you deserve after winning the FA Cup, that's the Europa League.
"So I think now it's with a one-year delay, the club, the fans, the players did get what they deserved after winning the Europa League.
"Sometimes you have to take a round trip, and now we are there. Crystal Palace is where they should be."
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Watch FULL interview as Glasner closes chapter on Crystal Palace career
Video credit: TNT Sports
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PALACE GET THEIR REVENGE
Dean Henderson has been speaking to TNT Sports and feels that it was only right that Palace won the game to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, after winning the FA Cup last year but missing out on the competition.
"These boys, honestly, they amaze me. It's our 60th game of the season. They've run around all year.
"We've had some difficult nights throughout the season but the boys delivered tonight. These are special moments and these are memories that will last a lifetime.
"It's a weight lifted off your shoulders as you want to deliver when you're under pressure. I had no doubt that the boys would do that today.
We've got back what we deserved from last season and it's a fairytale.
"The manager has been incredible and this is how it should've ended. I'm so happy for him."
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Henderson reflects on Palace's 'fairytale' Conference League triumph
Video credit: TNT Sports
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ENGLAND'S LOSS?
Adam Wharton missed out on a spot in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.
Days later, he delivered a Player of the Match display in a European final to help Palace to their first major European trophy.
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PARISH: 'IT'S NEVER BEEN BETTER' AT PALACE
There's so much reaction to bring you, and even co-owner and chairman Steve Parish has been speaking to TNT Sports.
"It's never been better. Even to be in Europe, travelling around Europe, Strasbourg, Krakow, but then to come and win it is just incredible.
"It's not really sunk in. It's an incredible achievement, the players, the staff, all the ups and downs we've had in the season. It's brilliant to get to this point and getting into the Europa League, where we deserve to be in the end.
It just shows you, sometimes the good guys win.
"Just surviving in the Premier League is difficult, but to win the FA Cup, the Community Shield and to win the Conference League, a European trophy at the first time of asking is an incredible achievement which means everything.
"When I came to the club, I never thought we'd play in Europe, let alone win a trophy, so all of our dreams have come true. We've now had a taste of it, and we want to keep it going."
Oliver Glasner and Steve Parish celebrate
Image credit: Getty Images
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WHARTON IS READY TO PARTY!
After delivering an instrumental display in the final, Adam Wharton speaks to TNT Sports about his celebration plans and Oliver Glasner.
"I missed out on the FA Cup celebrations last year, so I'm definitely going to make up for it this year, 100%. You can't put the feeling into words. It's incredible. You can see what it means for south London. Just unbelievable.
"[The celebrations] are going to be big. I've got doping unfortunately, which ruins my party a little bit but hopefully I can get that done quickly and get on the beers."
On Oliver Glasner, Wharton added: "The difference he has made in two and a half years is incredible. Three trophies for Palace, the first three in the history of the club.
First European competition and winning it. Unbelievable. He has got to be one of the best managers Palace have ever had.
"He has made a massive difference for how the club looks at competitions. We are not just looking to stay in the Premier League and be in Europe, we are looking to win it and be as high as possible."
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EASY JOB FOR THE NEXT MANAGER?
As we know, this was Glasner's final game in charge - and what a way to go out!
Glenn Hoddle tells TNT Sports that he has laid the foundations, and suggested that the incoming manager, whoever that may be, will just need to pick up from where the Austrian left off.
Whoever goes in there has a foundation already there. He doesn't have to build one, the house is almost built. You haven't got to do too much, you can only improve it.
"We're talking about a club whose manager said a few months ago that he is leaving at the end of the season. It could've all gone flat and it could've all gone downhill.
"They could've had a disastrous time in the league, but they're lifting the trophy at the end of it. It's credit to the manager, his staff, to the owners as well, who kept their nerve, as they believed he would work as hard as he has, and now they're getting the fruits of that.
"Now, the fans will wake up tomorrow morning wondering if this was all a dream."
Glasner celebrates with the trophy
Image credit: Getty Images
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THE DIFFERENCE MAKER
Watch the goal that made Crystal Palace Conference League champions!
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BOOM! Mateta nets opener in final as Crystal Palace fans go wild
Video credit: TNT Sports
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MITCHELL REACTS!
The defender gave everything tonight (despite missing a sitter!) and has been speaking to TNT Sports.
"It's something you dream of but you don't think is reality. We have made it a reality I am proud of everyone, past and present, that helped us get to this point.
"We played 60 games this season and so many of our bodies are not used to it.
"There was a few times where we weren't winning, but if it all meant that we got here and won it we would do it all over again.
It's the same feeling that we had when we won the FA Cup; pure delight, pure emotion and we are just so happy we got it over the line.
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GLASNER DOES IT AGAIN!
More reaction from Leipzig...
TNT Sports' Ibrahim Mustapha from the Red Bull Arena:
"Incredible scenes at full time! Palace fans erupted and haven't stopped.
"The Eagles are [sort of] champions of Europe. What a two-year spell in charge for Glasner!"
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WATCH: CRYSTAL PALACE LIFT THE CONFERENCE LEAGUE TROPHY
What a moment for Dean Henderson!
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Crystal Palace lift Conference League trophy in historic moment for Eagles
Video credit: TNT Sports
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'THEY WERE MAKING HISTORY FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS'
TNT Sports expert Joleon Lescott has given his immediate thoughts after watching Palace lift their second trophy in as many years.
"At the start of January, they were making history for all the wrong reasons.
"Going out of the FA Cup to Macclesfield, and it looked as though the manager was going. It felt like the end of a short dynasty as they lost Marc Guehi, not long after losing [Eberechi] Eze and [Michael] Olise.
This will live long in the memory of everyone connected with the club.
Oliver Glasner celebrates
Image credit: Getty Images
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TIME FOR THE TROPHY LIFT
The Palace players are receiving their medals as they head for the trophy podium.
Here comes captain Dean Henderson with the trophy... and he lifts it into the Leipzig air!
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Image credit: Getty Images
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MATETA: 'I FEEL FANTASTIC!'
This is what the striker had to say to TNT Sports after scoring the winning goal in Leipzig...
"I feel fantastic! I feel fantastic! We did it! First time in Europe and we did it. Now I just want to celebrate. This guy [Joel Ward] has to celebrate with us.
We gave everything. I told you about the intensity they will have and I am tired right now, I gave everything. That's why we won today.
"I am always with the fans. They have supported me a lot as a player. They are always behind us. We did it for them too."
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WATCH: FULL-TIME SCENES
Palace celebrate their second major trophy in as many years!
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Watch: Wild full-time scenes as Crystal Palace clinch Conference League glory
Video credit: TNT Sports