Crystal Palace face Rayo Vallecano in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night.The historic clash in Leipzig represents the first major European showpiece for both clubs. Oliver Glasner hopes to end his Selhurst Park tenure by lifting a continental trophy. The Austrian manager will leave the Eagles following the expiration of his contract. Palace endured a difficult domestic campaign, finishing 15th after losing 2-1 against champions Arsenal.Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano arrive in Germany riding a phenomenal wave of momentum. Iñigo Pérez has guided his resilient team to a nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions. They narrowly missed European qualification domestically after finishing eighth in La Liga. Victory at the Red Bull Arena provides their only route back into continental football.Both teams boast excellent goalscoring records, setting the stage for a thrilling final. Palace have scored an unrivalled 25 goals in Europe this season. Rayo have proven incredibly difficult to beat on their travels recently. This intriguing tactical battle pits London against Madrid for the ultimate prize. Both teams have lost just three times in the competition this season.Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano – Match preview and team newsDate: Wednesday, 27 May 2026Kick-off: 20:00 BSTVenue: Red Bull ArenaReferee: Maurizio Mariani (ITA)VAR: Marco Di Bello (ITA)Team newsCrystal PalaceOliver Glasner faces a nervous wait regarding the fitness of defender Chris Richards. The American centre-back tore two ankle ligaments and remains a major doubt for Wednesday. Midfielder Adam Wharton also requires a late fitness test after suffering an ankle injury.However, Maxence Lacroix and Chadi Riad proved their fitness during that final-day defeat. Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure remain completely sidelined with long-term injury issues. Jean-Philippe Mateta will spearhead the attack alongside prolific winger Ismaïla Sarr. Sarr currently leads the competition with an impressive nine goals this term.Rayo VallecanoIñigo Pérez faces a significant attacking setback ahead of this monumental clash. Ilias Akhomach suffered an unfortunate injury during the semi-final warm-up against Strasbourg. He remains a major concern for the Madrid-based outfit ahead of kickoff.However, Rayo welcome back Álvaro García to boost their formidable attacking options. García currently ranks as their second-highest scorer in the Conference League this season. Alemão will lead the line after netting four times during the European campaign.FormCrystal PalacePalace enter the final carrying patchy domestic form following a difficult Premier League run-in. They won just one of their last six matches across all competitions. Defensive frailties remain a glaring issue for Glasner’s outgoing side.The Eagles have registered just one clean sheet in their last 11 outings. They have also shipped multiple goals in five of their last six away fixtures. However, they boast 25 European goals this term, making them the tournament’s top scorers.Rayo VallecanoRayo Vallecano touch down in Leipzig, boasting incredible defensive and offensive momentum. They secured a 2-1 victory over Alaves on Sunday through a 90th-minute winner. That result extended their impressive unbeaten sequence to nine consecutive matches.They are also unbeaten in their last four games on the road. The Spanish side boast a remarkable 64% win rate in major European matches. That represents the highest percentage of any team to play over 20 continental fixtures.Predicted lineupsCrystal Palace Predicted XI: Henderson; Clyne, Lacroix, Canvot; Muñoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; MatetaRayo Vallecano Predicted XI: Batalla; Rațiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarría; Óscar Valentín, López, Isi Palazón, García, De Frutos; AlemãoHow to watch Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano?In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 6.30 pm. TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the HBO Max app and website. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Read more – Our alternative non-Big Six Premier League awards for 2025/26See Also- Manchester United set to accelerate move for relegated West Ham starFollow the Football Faithful on Social Media:Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | TikTok The post Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano – Match preview and team news first appeared on The Football Faithful.