Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano: Jean-Philippe Mateta wins Conference League for the Eagles

Jean-Philippe Mateta's opportunistic finish early in the second half secured victory for Crystal Palace in the 2026 UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano.

Match in brief: Mateta makes the difference

Mateta pounces on a loose ball to scoreGetty Images

Oliver Glasner spoke of Rayo's ability to press hard and dupe opponents into putting the ball just where they wanted it and the Spanish side's powers of suggestion seemed to work in the first half.

Alemão flicked Pep Chavarria's cross wide on 25 minutes, and Unai López then drove beyond the same upright when Álvaro Garcia presented him with the ball on the edge of the box. The Eagles then snatched at the best first-half opening, the busy Tyrick Mitchell making an imperfect headed connection with Adam Wharton's added-time cross.

Tyrick Mitchell (top left) heads the best chance of the first half wideAFP via Getty Images

Palace then sprang a surprise early in the second half, Wharton taking the ball forward and shooting from the edge of the box when a pass looked more likely. Augusto Batalla got down to block, but the lurking Jean-Philippe Mateta was perfectly placed to force the rebound in.

However, another loose ball went begging soon afterwards, no one able to get the final touch after a Yeremy Pino free-kick cannoned off both posts, and Palace were quickly thwarted again, Batalla defying Mateta as he bore down on goal.

Augusto Batalla denies Mateta a second Palace goalAFP via Getty Images

Rayo sprang back off the ropes and Palace battled to keep them at arm's length in the closing stages. Iñigo Pérez's side kept up the pace and tried – not without success – to cause panic in the English side's penalty area. Clean hits, though, were hard to come by and when Alemão crashed wide in the final moments, the game was up.

Adam Wharton with the Laufenn Player of the Match trophy UEFA via Getty Images

Laufenn Player of the Match: Adam Wharton (Crystal Palace)

The UEFA Technical Observer panel said: "He created the goal and the other two biggest chances for Palace. Displayed good positional awareness for the Eagles during a tough midfield battle."

Reporter verdict: Charlotte Richardson, Crystal Palace

Palace are Conference League champions in their very first major foray into European football. Mateta pounced to score the most important goal in the club's history and Oliver Glasner reigns supreme again, having claimed the club's first major trophy last season in the FA Cup final. His final 90 minutes in charge deliver a scoreline the Eagles will savour for some time.

Reporter verdict: Gonzalo Aguado, Rayo Vallecano

It wasn't to be for Rayo. A solitary goal from Mateta in the second half denies them their first European title. Iñigo Pérez's side gave it their all, but they unfortunately will not be returning to Vallecas with the Conference League trophy. Even so, they can be very proud of the season they have had and of having filled the whole of Vallecas with excitement and joy.

Palace players give their Rayo counterparts a guard of honour at full-timeAFP via Getty Images

Reaction

Jean-Philippe Mateta, Palace forward: "I feel fantastic! I feel fantastic! We did it! First time in Europe and we did it. Now I just want to celebrate. 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."

Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace midfielder and Player of the Match: "I missed out on the FA Cup celebrations last year so I'm definitely going to make up for that this year. I can't put this feeling into words, it's incredible. You can see what it means to south London and the fans, it's incredible."

Tyrick Mitchell, Palace defender: "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."

Iñigo Pérez, Rayo coach: "This performance shows what we are as a group. When we have challenges like Crystal Palace that are very difficult we keep trying and show no fear. Obviously, when you lose it's painful, but I like to hear that we have brought happiness to the neighbourhood. You can't help feeling how it would have been if we had won. It would have been an amazing explosion of joy."

Augusto Batalla, Rayo goalkeeper, to UEFA: "What we've achieved this season means the world to us. Hopefully, it will be the boost the club needs to keep growing. Let's see if, by doing things right, we can compete in Europe again as we have this year."

Key stats

• Palace have won the trophy in their debut season in a major UEFA competition. Their only previous participation was the 1998 Intertoto Cup campaign, which ended in their opening tie in the third round.
• Palace are the third English club – all from London – to win the Conference League final, after West Ham (2022/23) and Chelsea (2024/25).
• Palace are the 12th different English club to win a major UEFA men's club competition after Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Ipswich Town, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.
• Daichi Kamada (Frankfurt 2021/22, Palace 2025/26) and Yeremy Pino (Villarreal 2020/21, Palace 2025/26) have now played on winning sides in both the Europa League and the Conference League finals.

Line-ups

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Riad; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta (Strand Larsen 76), Pino (Guessand 80)

Rayo Vallecano: Batalla; Rațiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarría;  Isi Palazón (Akhomach 77), Óscar Valentín (Mendy 62), López (Díaz 62); De Frutos (Camello 70), Alemão, García (Espino 70)

Palace and Rayo line up ahead of kick-off in LeipzigGetty Images