View from the opposition: ‘We can't change that it is our first final’

Match previews

27 May 2026

Crystal Palace take on Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League Final on Wednesday night (20:00 BST/21:00 local time) – before the game, here's how first-time European finalists previewed the game...

Sid Lowe's inside track on Rayo
Tampa Tactics gives his analysis on Palace's opponents

Factfile

Manager: Iñigo Pérez
Nickname: Los Franjirrojos (The Red Sashes)
Final League position: 8th (50 points)
Founded: 1924 (102 years ago)

In their manager's words...

Speaking after his team had trained at the Leipzig Stadium, coach Iñigo Pérez said he won't let the occasion get to his players.

"We're very happy and pleased to be here," he said. "To have made this journey together with our friends and family.

"Just to have them on the same plane, that's what we wanted. Now we are fully focused on what's ahead.

"When you arrive at this magnificent stadium, you start to get a different feeling in your body.

"Now we need to express that feeling in our football and our confidence tomorrow. We can't change that it's our first final.

"I think the key is to ignore that. We already know that. We can't focus on that and despite the mental challenges posed by this match, we need to play this match just like any other match that our team has played."

Pérez, who has led Rayo to an eight place finish in La Liga this season, wants to see, above all else, his team play with their identity when they face the Eagles in Leipzig.

"We need to do that [play with an identity]," he added. "That's what will ground us when things heat up tomorrow.

"When you see the shirts of both teams, when you find yourself in the stadium where you've never played before and everything is new, you need that.

"The way to find confidence in football is to rely on what brought you success. For us this is our way of doing things, our identity."

Rayo team news

Ilias Akhomach, Diego Mendez and Carlos Martin are all injury doubts, while Luiz Felipe will miss out entirely on the final.

Alvaro Garcia should be part of the squad. He missed six La Liga games on the bounce before returning with a 45 minute runout in the season-closer against Alaves.

In terms of familiar faces, defender Florian Lejeune has previously faced Palace during his three-year stay in England with Newcastle United.

The centre-back has gone up against the Eagles on three previous occasions, winning two and drawing one.

Visit out Conference League Final Hub

Stat attack

Palace have scored 14 goals in the knockout stages of this year's competition, the most of any team.
English clubs have won two of the last three Conference League Finals.
Rayo finished 5th in the league phase, meaning they directly progressed to the last 16 and have played two games fewer on their road to the final.
Vallecano have not lost a match in over a month. Their most recent defeat was the second leg of their Conference League quarter-final, a 3-1 loss to AEK Athens. However, they still progressed 4-3 on aggregate.

2026 UEFA Conference League Final

Crystal Palace v Rayo Vallecano

Wednesday, 27th May
20:00 BST UK time / 21:00 CEST local time
Leipzig Stadium, Germany
Live audio commentary on Palace TV+
Visit our Conference League Final Hub

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View from the opposition: ‘We can't change that it is our first final’

Match previews

27 May 2026

Sid Lowe's inside track on Rayo
Tampa Tactics gives his analysis on Palace's opponents

Factfile

Manager: Iñigo Pérez
Nickname: Los Franjirrojos (The Red Sashes)
Final League position: 8th (50 points)
Founded: 1924 (102 years ago)