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Crystal Palace will take on Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Europa Conference League final on Wednesday, 27 May, with both teams looking to make history for their respective clubs.
Neither side has ever won a European trophy before, but that isn't all that's at stake, with a place in next season's Europa League also on offer to the winner.
Read our prediction, preview and betting tips for the game below, and make sure to check out our today's betting tips page for more of our expert predictions.
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano key stats
- Crystal Palace have the highest cumulative xG (31.3) in the Conference League this season.
- Rayo Vallecano have created significantly fewer goalscoring chances (xG=20) than Crystal Palace in the Conference League this season.
- Both teams have scored in four of Crystal Palace's last five Conference League matches.
Crystal Palace vs Ray Vallecano preview: Eternal glory awaits the winners
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano — Tale of the Tape
| Crystal Palace | vs | Rayo Vallecano |
|---|---|---|
| 15th (Premier League) | Position | 8th (La Liga) |
| 45 | Points | 50 |
| 41 | Goals For | 41 |
| 51 | Goals Against | 44 |
| 12 | Clean Sheets | 12 |
The chance to cement yourself as a legend doesn't come around all that often in football, but every player involved on Wednesday has the opportunity to immortalise themselves with their respective clubs.
Winning trophies has almost become the norm at Crystal Palace under Oliver Glasner, with the FA Cup and Community Shield now safely in the Selhurst Park trophy cabinet. However, the Austrian has admitted that a European triumph would trump both of those achievements.
The Eagles have breezed through the knockout stages of the tournament and go into the match on Wednesday as the favourites, but there is an argument that this doesn't suit them or their preferred style of play. In both of their two previous cup wins under Glasner, they started the final as underdogs, and being expected to win is a different type of pressure altogether.
Interestingly, Palace have not faced another Spanish side in the competition so far this season, which adds an element of the unknown to the fixture.
For the match on Wednesday night, Glasner is sweating on the availability of Adam Wharton, who picked up an ankle injury against Arsenal at the weekend. Chris Richards and Borna Sosa are also doubtful, while Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure have both been officially ruled out.
As for Rayo Vallecano, they will be quietly confident about their chances of walking away with the cup on Wednesday night, which would not only be their first-ever European trophy, but their first major trophy, period.
Los Franjirrojos have enjoyed an excellent period after their most recent promotion in 2021. They have now finished inside the top eight for two consecutive seasons, and victory on Wednesday night would be a stunning end to Inigo Perez's time at the club before he departs for Villarreal.
While Vallecano have not been as dominant as Crystal Palace in the Conference League, they deserve credit for how resolute they have been. This was more evident than ever during both legs of their semi-final with Strasbourg, where Perez's side ran out as 1-0 winners home and away.
On the injury front, there are currently concerns around Carlos Martin after he was forced off in the first half against Alaves at the weekend. Ilias Akhomach and Diego Mendez are also questionable, while Luiz Felipe will play no part.
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano form guide & betting tips
| Crystal Palace | vs | Rayo Vallecano |
|---|---|---|
WDLDL |
Form | WDDWW |
| 7 | Goals For | 7 |
| 10 | Goals Against | 3 |
LWW |
[Europa Conference League] | LWW |
Whispers predicts: Crystal Palace 2-1 Rayo Vallecano
Crystal Palace are not going to have it all their own way in Leipzig, but their dominance in this competition cannot be ignored. Crystal Palace to win the match inside 90 minutes has been best priced at 9/10.
Both teams have scored in three of Rayo Vallecano's last four matches. BTTS has been priced at 1/1.
Ismaila Sarr is the Conference League's top scorer this season with nine goals. Sarr is priced at 12/5 to score anytime on Wednesday.
> Crystal Palace to win at 9/10 | Likelihood: Probable
> BTTS at 1/1 | Likelihood: Probable
> Ismaila Sarr to score anytime at 12/5 | Likelihood: Probable