Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano: Wharton sparkles as Glasner delivers more glory in his final game

Analysis

Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano: Wharton sparkles as Glasner delivers more glory in his final game

Dean Henderson lifts the UEFA Conference League trophy after Crystal Palace's victory in the final Alex Grimm/Getty Images

By Matt Woosnam and Dermot Corrigan

May 28, 2026 Updated 5:09 am GMT+7

Oliver Glasner’s stellar legacy at Crystal Palace was already assured, but winning the UEFA Conference League is some way to mark his final game.

Thirteen years to the day since Palace returned to the Premier League via the Championship play-off final, they have added a European trophy to a cabinet also proudly displaying an FA Cup from May 2025 and a Community Shield from last August.

The first half was stopped after about 35 minutes due to a medical emergency among the Vallecano supporters and once it restarted Palace created the best chance of the half in stoppage-time. Tyrick Mitchell headed wide — a 0.48 xG opportunity — from a beautifully clipped ball from Adam Wharton.

But Palace looked a different team in the second half. Jean-Philippe Mateta, named in France’s World Cup squad earlier this month, reacted superbly after Rayo keeper Augusto Batalla could only parry a stinging Wharton shot from the edge of the box.

Jean-Philippe Mateta celebrates after scoring the only goal of the game Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Palace were ahead, cue pandemonium among their supporters in Leipzig. That excitement only increased a few minutes later when Yeremy Pino somehow managed to hit both posts with a free kick. The Spaniard then created another chance for Mateta — Batalla saving well this time.

Glasner’s side understandably sat back a bit more as the game reached its conclusion but although Rayo had more of the ball, they were unable to create a real clear-cut chance.

The night, and the remarkably snazzy trophy, belonged to Crystal Palace.

Matt Woosnam and Dermot Corrigan analyse the final.

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What this means for Crystal Palace

This is justice for Palace. Denied entry to the Europa League over multi-club issues last summer, they have allowed the pain to fuel them through this awkward Conference League journey and, in doing so, delivered a third trophy in the space of 12 months.

The most incredible achievement in the club’s history? Perhaps. They were the favourites for this competition, whereas the FA Cup success last summer was very much against the odds. Not that it really matters anyway, the two go hand-in-hand. Who would have believed a European journey possible, let alone winning silverware on the continent?

It is incredibly special. It will reward everyone emotionally, they will party long into the night and the following morning, but for the club, the financial reward is one for which to be grateful as well.

Oliver Hardt/Getty Images

After a gruelling campaign for the club, this was the perfect ending.

Matt Woosnam

Rayo’s dream over but they have enjoyed the journey

After a wonderful journey in their first European campaign in 25 years, taking in trips to North Macedonia, Sweden, Slovakia, Kosovo, Poland, Greece and France, Rayo’s bid to win the first-ever trophy in their history fell just short.

This was an opportunity of a lifetime and Rayo’s players — and their supporters in the stands — gave everything they had, and at half-time Inigo Perez’s really well drilled side looked in with a real chance. They had less possession than Palace, but arguably the clearest chance — only for Brazilian centre-forward Alemao to bundle his shot wide from 12 yards.

There will be disappointment about Mateta’s goal — Wharton should have been closed down quicker, and Batalla should not have parried the ball so weakly. Soon afterwards, when space did open up behind the Palace defence, winger Alvaro Garcia’s first touch was much too heavy and the chance was gone.

Maja Hitij/Getty Images

Over the 90 minutes, Palace players were just superior — technically and physically — to Rayo’s. Which should not have been a surprise, given the Premier League club’s much bigger annual budget and wage bill.

It was closer than last year’s Conference final, when Chelsea easily outclassed Real Betis 4-1, but the Premier League team were ultimately much stronger again.

Highly rated coach Perez might well be back on a similar stage again, but for many others at Rayo this was their one chance. There will be pain at missing out, but also pride at having come so far.

Dermot Corrigan

How good was Adam Wharton?

Adam Wharton, overlooked by England head coach Thomas Tuchel for a place in his squad for the summer’s World Cup, came good when it mattered.

It is the attribute for which Glasner praises him so often — pre-orientation — that was most obvious in Wednesday’s final. That scanning and knowledge of his next pass before the ball arrives at his feet, was on display throughout the game. But he became more influential as the game wore on, chipping a ball for Tyrick Mitchell for a glorious first-half chance that the defender missed before hitting the shot that was parried by Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, which allowed Mateta to score.

Wharton’s influence grew throughout the game Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images

In a game which required something from the midfield to open it up, Wharton stepped up to create something from nothing when Palace’s main avenue of rapid transitions was shut off.

That is what makes him so valuable, and so impressive.

It was also quite the turnaround for Mateta. The source of much anger from Palace fans at his possible departure in January, they will be so relieved he stayed and it is testament the Frenchman for his attitude that he has come back from injury and secured a World Cup place and a European trophy for Palace.

Did nerves affect Palace in the opening 45 minutes?

The unlucky Chadi Riad — who suffered an MCL injury in just his third appearance with the club and then an ACL injury in January last year — started in place of the USMNT’s Chris Richards, whose ankle injury had not sufficiently healed.

But both he and Jaydee Canvot looked uncertain at the back in the first half. Rayo did not threaten often but Riad’s missed header gave Unai Lopez a chance that he volleyed wide. There were a couple more shaky moments from the Morocco international, while Canvot tried to shield a ball out of play which had no pace and had to be bailed out by Maxence Lacroix.

Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Nerves were understandable in such a big game but it hampered Palace’s ability to build pressure in the opening 45 minutes. Fortunately, they turned it all around after the break.

What was the incident with the Rayo fan in the first half?

During what was a cagey first half, Rayo seemed happy to keep the pace of the game slow. And just after the half-hour mark it was the La Liga side’s players, including right-back Andrei Ratiu and goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, who drew the officials attention to a medical emergency high in the stands behind Batalla’s goal.

The Palace players appeared keener to get the game restarted, with Mateta exchanging words and a mini-push with Argentine Batalla.

As play began again, there was applause from the Rayo end supporters as one of their own was taken up the steps by medical staff and stewards.

Rayo Vallecano fans show their support during Wednesday night’s game Alex Grimm/Getty Images

Shortly afterwards, Rayo went down the other end and opened the scoring, but Unai Lopez’s shot flew wide from the edge of the box, and the driving chants from the ultras behind Batalla’s goal restarted.

What did Oliver Glasner say?

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, the outgoing Palace boss was delighted with how his team took control of the game. “Credit to the players, to the team because it was the game we expected but I think we played an incredible 15 minutes after half-time, where we scored the goal and could have decided it — then at the end we defended so well. A fantastic evening and this group of players, this club, these fans deserve to win the Conference League.”

“I told the players, today in our meeting ‘we hear a lot from the fans saying thank you for providing the best day of their life, all the emotions’ and I said thank you to the players because it’s the same for me. The players and our fans, they give me and my family — who are here today — great, incredible days in my life.”

Matt Woosnam | Crystal Palace Correspondent

Dermot Corrigan | La Liga Correspondent

Tagged To: Champions League Europa League La Liga Premier League Crystal Palace

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