Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano: historic Mateta strike wins Eagles Conference League | OneFootball

Ollie Whitmore, Chief football news reporter

Crystal Palace soared to their first ever European trophy on manager Oliver Glasner’s farewell, edging past Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the Europa Conference League final and restoring themselves to the Europa League.

Jean-Philippe Mateta – who was a failed medical away from leaving for Italian giants AC Milan in January – tapped home his side’s crowning goal five minutes into the second half on the follow up to Adam Wharton’s effort from range.

Rayo, who were also debuting in a first ever European final, dialled up the pressure in the second half but were made to rue a missed half-chance from Alemão before the break as the Eagles held firm to win a second major trophy in Glasner’s final match.

As it happened

Palace’s travelling support were in fine voice as their first ever European final got underway and waited 10 minutes to see the first effort on goal from Conference League top scorer Ismaila Sarr, which was well-blocked by a white shirt.

Glasner had his team pressing high and tackling with intent – something that the Eagles weren’t seen to do as regularly in the Premier League – and it paid off as they nearly caught Vallecano out of shape just under halfway into the first period.

Yeremy Pino was breaking away through the middle and eventually tripped by Pathé Ciss, who was booked despite Palace’s claims that the Senegalese centre-back was the last defender when committing the foul.

It wasn’t one-way traffic, though, as Chadi Riad – drafted in to cover for Chris Richards – then missed the header to clear a cross in from the left and in-form striker Alemão let him off the hook sending it wide, missing the chance to bag a sixth goal in nine matches.

The encounter was growing livelier by the minute, but it was briefly paused in the 36th minute when Vallecano goalkeeper Augusto Batalla made the referee aware of a medical emergency somewhere among the Spanish supporters.

Mitchell ghosted into the penalty area in stoppage time and nodded wide easily the best chance of the half, picked out by a delightful delivery from deep on the right by 22-year-old Adam Wharton, to the fury of Vallecano boss Iñigo Pérez.

It was perhaps written in the stars that Mateta would make his mark on the final, finding himself in the right place at the right time to steer the ball in after Batalla parried Wharton’s powerful strike just five minutes after the restart.

It was only his second goal in the Europa Conference League, but he may never score a more important one in the tournament in what remains of his career with Palace and beyond.

Rayo only had themselves to blame allowing the midfielder to run towards goal unchallenged and fail to keep tight to the towering Frenchman, and saw Pino’s free-kick remarkably strike both posts and stay out after a careless foul on Sarr.

Rayo stepped up the tempo heading into the final 10 minutes of the game, but there was a hint of desperation as centre-back Florian Léjeune fired well wide from distance with time running out to find the equalizer.

Even as the final entered into second-half stoppage time, Palace kept bombing forward with every opportunity they had to try and put the game beyond doubt as Rayo continued their siege of long-range strikes.

Crystal Palace saw out Glasner’s game plan to perfection on his final match in the London club’s dugout, and pulls the curtain down on his time at the club as the best in their history with their first ever European trophy.

Palace, now the second of three English teams that made it to European finals to win it, hand over to Champions League finalists Arsenal to complete a continental treble for English clubs this season.

Crystal Palace analysis: want-out Mateta stars as Eagles soar full circle

It’s the 2nd of February.

France international Jean-Philippe Mateta is looking to seal a move away from Crystal Palace after six years at Selhurst Park, following the club’s brutal demotion down from the Europa League on the basis of breaching multi-club ownership rules.

Leaving a hint of bitterness in what was otherwise the greatest day in the history of the London club, they would have to do it the hard way if they wanted to restore themselves where their memorable FA Cup triumph brought them: win the Conference League.

And win it they have in the most poetic way possible, Mateta tapping in one of the easier goals he’s scored throughout his Palace career that seemed nailed on to end in January only to see his move to Milan fall through after failing his medical.

Somehow, he was in the perfect place at the perfect time during the contest and was the most composed head on the field when he notched a trademark poacher’s goal.

Mateta admitted that it was challenging to move on from his transfer evaporating before his eyes, having been nursing knee issues since November 2025, but that will likely now be long behind him as his current employers were very impressive throughout.

The London club started brightly and carved out the best chance of the first half when Tyrique Mitchell’s diving header went within inches of the opening goal, keeping in good shape when choosing not to exact a press to limit Vallecano to one real half-chance.

Making this all the more impressive, to add to Mateta’s composure, was 22-year-old Chadi Riad imposing himself well on just a third start in Europe and his fellow centre-back Jaydee Canvot capping off an impressive second season playing at senior level.

Palace have a very bright future ahead of them if they can keep hold of their young assets, with the likelihood that some of their more experienced players follow Glasner on his way out of the club.

Mateta could well be one of those players, with Juventus rumored to have ignited interest in the 28-year-old Frenchman, but as Palace reinstate themselves in the Europa League – which the Old Lady will also be competing in next season – their supporters may well see the move as a sidewards step for their final hero.

He may well attract interest from a club that has qualified for the Champions League. But if that is the case and Mateta is to depart Crystal Palace in the summer, then he will do so having given them the perfect parting gift.