Crystal Palace win their first international title. The 2025 FA Cup and English Super Cup winners beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the Conference League final in Leipzig. It was the happy ending coach Oliver Glasner had hoped for.
The English side's first goal chance of note was immediately the decisive action in the long, tough match between the 15th-placed team in the Premier League and the 9th-placed team in the Spanish championship, both of whom were aiming for their first international title. Jean-Philippe Mateta was on hand in the 51st minute to tap home a rebound when Vallecano goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made an inadequate save from Adam Wharton's powerful long-range shot. The almost 40,000 spectators in the Leipzig stadium did not see any further goals.
For Oliver Glasner, it was the happy ending he had hoped for. The departure of the 51-year-old Austrian, who won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022 and led Crystal Palace to the FA Cup in his first two years in charge, had been a foregone conclusion for some time.
The triumph of the Premier League club from London was well deserved. For too long, Rayo Vallecano focused on a stable defense and acted passively. Only the goal they conceded forced them to adopt a more offensive style of play. However, they were not really dangerous.
On the contrary, Crystal Palace, for whom former Lausanne player Evann Guessand came on as a substitute in the closing stages, could have scored a second goal soon after. Among other things, a free kick from Yeremi Pino bounced back in front via the double post (56').
Crystal Palace are the third English winners in the fifth year of the competition. Chelsea triumphed last year and West Ham in 2023. For Crystal Palace, it is the first international title in the club's 121-year history.
Crystal Palace
Rayo Vallecano
- Jean-Philippe Mateta - 1:0 (51.)
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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55.
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51.
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0.
blue Sport commentator Joel di Ronco gives impressions from Leipzig city center
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0.
This is Conference League finalist Rayo Vallecano
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90.+6.End of 2nd half
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90.+2.Yellow card Rayo Vallecano
Alfonso Espino
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85.Yellow card Rayo Vallecano
Nobel Mendy
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82.Yellow card Crystal Palace
Chadi Riad
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80.Substitution in Crystal Palace
Evann Guessand
Striker
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80.Substitution out Crystal Palace
Yéremy Pino
Striker
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77.Substitution in Rayo Vallecano
Ilias Akhomach
Striker
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77.Substitution out Rayo Vallecano
Isi Palazon
Midfielder
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76.Substitution in Crystal Palace
Jørgen Strand Larsen
Striker
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76.Substitution out Crystal Palace
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Striker
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74.Yellow card Crystal Palace
Yéremy Pino
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70.Substitution in Rayo Vallecano
Alfonso Espino
Defender
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70.Substitution out Rayo Vallecano
Álvaro García
Midfielder
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70.Substitution in Rayo Vallecano
Sergio Camello
Striker
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70.Substitution out Rayo Vallecano
Jorge de Frutos
Midfielder
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63.Substitution in Rayo Vallecano
Nobel Mendy
Defender
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63.Substitution out Rayo Vallecano
Óscar Valentín
Midfielder
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63.Substitution in Rayo Vallecano
Pedro Díaz
Midfielder
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63.Substitution out Rayo Vallecano
Unai López
Midfielder
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62.Yellow card Rayo Vallecano
Álvaro García
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51.Goal for Crystal Palace, 1:0 through Jean-Philippe Mateta
Jean-Philippe Mateta
Striker
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48.Yellow card Rayo Vallecano
Unai López
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+5.End of 1st half
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41.Yellow card Crystal Palace
Adam Wharton
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23.Yellow card Rayo Vallecano
Isi Palazon
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20.Yellow card Rayo Vallecano
Pathé Ciss
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1.Start of the match
