🏆 Palace make history: first European title won! Mateta seals final 💥 | OneFootball

Crystal Palace writes the most important page in its history and wins its first European trophy by beating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the UEFA Conference League final.

An unforgettable night at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, lit up by an extraordinary atmosphere created by the two sets of fans, who put on a nonstop show in the stands from start to finish.

After a very intense and hard-fought start, the match was stopped for a few minutes because of a medical emergency in the section occupied by Rayo Vallecano fans. Late in the first half, Palace had already come close to taking the lead through Mitchell, before the decisive goal arrived in the second half: Wharton finds space through the middle, shoots from outside the box, and after Batalla’s poor save, Jean-Philippe Mateta is there, ice-cold, to tap home from close range.

Palace then dominates the middle part of the second half, even hits the woodwork three times in the same move, and comes close several times to doubling the lead, again through Mateta, who is also denied by a superb Batalla save.

At the final whistle, the English fans erupt in celebration, marking the first international triumph in the club’s history. For Mateta, it is a night of total heroism: just a few months ago Milan decided not to complete the deal after his medical because of a knee problem, while today the Frenchman writes his name forever into Crystal Palace history.

For Rayo, huge disappointment and tears after coming so close to a historic achievement, but also the awareness that they gave themselves a night they are unlikely to forget, even if it ended in the worst possible way.

🏆 Crystal Palace make HISTORY, Glasner triumphs in his farewell!

The Eagles therefore win the first European trophy in their history: an incredible fairytale come true in Leipzig. After winning the FA Cup and FA Community Shield with Crystal Palace, Oliver Glasner also lifts the UEFA Europa Conference League.

For him, in his final match on the bench of the English club, it is the second European triumph of his career after winning the UEFA Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021/22. Opta notes that tonight he matches a feat achieved by Maurizio Sarri: they are the only two managers to have won in Europe in their final match with a club (Europa League with Chelsea in 2018/19 for the Italian coach).

😱 Palace on fire: three shots off the woodwork in one move, Mateta MISSES his brace

MINUTE 56 and 57 - Crystal Palace come within inches of a second goal in one of the most incredible passages of play in the final.

Pino delivers a brilliant free-kick that hits one post, travels across the whole goal, strikes the other upright too, and somehow comes back into play. Riad is first to attack the ball but misses it, then Mateta, from just a few yards out, hits a third post.

Rayo are completely struggling and just seconds later are in danger again: Pino breaks through on the left and finds the French striker once more, who shoots from close range with the goal at his mercy, but Batalla produces an extraordinary save to keep Spanish hopes alive. Ten absurd minutes in Leipzig.

⚽ Mateta BREAKS the deadlock in the final: Palace fans let out an INSANE roar

MINUTE 51 - One of the most anticipated stars steps up, breaks the deadlock, and decides the Conference League final: we are talking about Jean-Philippe Mateta.

The move starts on the right and works its way to Wharton, who drives forward through the middle with plenty of space ahead of him and unleashes a powerful strike from 22 meters: Batalla parries poorly, straight into the middle, and the Frenchman is quickest to react, poking the ball home from close range.

A deafening roar greets Crystal Palace’s opener at the Red Bull Arena. For Jean-Philippe Mateta, this could become an unforgettable night: the French striker had in fact been sent back by Milan in January after his medical because of a knee problem. Tonight he delivers the Eagles their first ever European trophy.

😱 Mitchel BLOWS a huge chance: Glasner in despair!

MINUTE 45+1 - The first clear-cut chance of the match falls to Mitchel’s head.

Wharton sends in a perfect cross from the left, the wing-back arrives completely unmarked in the box and dives to head it from close range, but fails to make the right contact: the ball goes just wide to the despair of the team and Glasner. Sofascore rates the missed chance at 0.48 xG.

❗ Match stopped for 3 minutes: medical emergency

MINUTE 35 - Play stopped in Leipzig: Rayo Vallecano goalkeeper Batalla immediately draws the referee’s attention to the section with the Spanish fans. According to Sky Sport UK, later confirmed by the LED screens inside the stadium, it was a medical emergency in the stands.

The match resumes after three minutes, which Mariani will of course add on. Batalla is not happy and goes at the referee, who warns him, though it is not entirely clear why.

⚠ Ciss takes a HUGE risk, yellow card and Palace protests

MINUTE 20 - First major incident of the match. Huge risk for Cissé, who brings down Pino on the break after being beaten near midfield. Crystal Palace protest for a possible red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity, but the referee - Italian official Maurizio Mariani - only shows a yellow, which seems like the right call.

🔥 BEAUTIFUL choreographies from both sets of fans

A red-hot atmosphere inside the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, with both sets of fans producing a stunning visual display in their respective ends.

✅ The OFFICIAL lineups

CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-2-1): Henderson; Canvot, Lacroix, Riad; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta.

RAYO VALLECANO (4-3-3): Batalla; Rațiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarria; Palazon, O. Valentin, Lopez; De Frutos, Alemao, Garcia.

🤑 How much is winning the Conference League WORTH?

From a financial point of view, winning the Conference League can change a club’s future. According to Calcio e Finanza, Crystal Palace had already earned around €17.3 million from their European run, while Rayo Vallecano had reached €18.4 million. With the final victory, thanks to the additional €3 million guaranteed by UEFA, the English side would rise to over €20 million in total, while the Spanish side would hit €21 million, not including stadium revenue and bonuses linked to qualification for the Europa League.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.

📸 TOBIAS SCHWARZ - AFP or licensors