Conference League semi-final first leg: Rayo Vallecano vs Strasbourg facts
Thursday, April 23, 2026
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The first leg of the UEFA Conference League semi-final brings the first match between clubs from Spain and France in the competition proper as Rayo Vallecano face Strasbourg in Madrid.
Rayo held on to defeat AEK Athens 4-3 on aggregate in the quarter-finals (3-0 h, 1-3 a), having progressed to that stage by beating Samsunspor 3-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 (3-1 a, 0-1 h). They finished their first-ever group stage/league phase campaign in fifth position in the table, on 13 points.
Strasbourg recovered from a first-leg defeat to overcome Mainz in the last eight (0-2 a, 4-0 h). In the round of 16, they recorded 3-2 aggregate success against Rijeka (2-1 a, 1-1 h) after an unbeaten league phase campaign (W5 D1) in which they finished top of the table on 16 points.
Last match
This is the first fixture between the teams and Strasbourg's first against a Spanish club.
Rayo have won both previous fixtures against French opposition, although those came over 25 years ago when they defeated Bordeaux 6-2 on aggregate in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup fourth round (4-1 h, 2-1 a).
Rayo's only previous European campaign took them to the quarter-finals of that 2000/01 UEFA Cup campaign, where they lost to fellow Spanish side Alavés 2-4 on aggregate (0-3 a, 2-1 h).
They have therefore reached their first semi‑final in only their second season of European competition.
Rayo are the second Spanish team to reach the Conference League semi‑finals, following Real Betis, who defeated Fiorentina 4-3 on aggregate at this stage last season.
The 2005/06 UEFA Cup – in which they were eliminated 2-4 on aggregate by Basel in the round of 16 (0-2 a, 2-2 h) – was also Strasbourg's last involvement in a knockout stage of European competition, although they did reach the qualifying play-offs of the 2019/20 Europa League, where they lost 1-3 on aggregate to Eintracht Frankfurt (1-0 h, 0-3 a).
Strasbourg are in their first major UEFA competition semi-final, although they did reach the same stage of the 1995 UEFA Intertoto Cup, defeating Tirol Innsbruck 7-2 on aggregate (1-1 a, 6-1 h).
Strasbourg are the second French team to reach the Conference League semi‑finals, Marseille having lost 2-3 on aggregate to Feyenoord in 2021/22.
Key stats
Rayo have won ten of their 12 previous home matches in UEFA competition (D1 L1).
The Spanish side have won eight of their nine two-legged European ties.
Strasbourg have lost only one of their 12 Conference League games this season (W8 D3).
The French club have won seven of their last nine two‑legged European ties.