Verdict: Alemao over 0.5 shots on target
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
With the 2026 Europa Conference League crown up for grabs on Wednesday night, Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano will meet at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig for this season's showpiece event.
Crystal Palace
Starting with Crystal Palace, with Oliver Glasner announcing earlier in the year that he will be leaving Selhurst Park this summer, Wednesday's iconic trip over to Germany will be his final appearance in the Eagles' dugout. Guiding Palace to a maiden FA Cup crown last year, the Austrian tactician has cemented his spot as one of the greatest managers in their illustrious history. However, despite dreaming of the chance to shatter even more record here, Glasner's side largely limped their way over the finishing line and struggled to find any kind of stability. Signing off the 2025/26 campaign with a 2-1 loss at home against newly-crowned Premier League champions Arsenal, the ex-Eintracht Frankfurt boss saw his squad register just two points from their final five top-flight showdowns. However, booking their spot to Leipzig thanks to a famous 5-2 aggregate victory against Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk earlier in the month, Palace have long since placed all of their eggs in the European basket.
Crystal Palace Team News
Not featuring this calendar year and still sidelined with a long-term thigh issue, Crystal Palace are once again without former Arsenal striker Eddie Nketihah. Likewise, Mali international Cheick Doucoure is still recovering from his latest knee injury.
While England international might have been snubbed by Thomas Tuchel last week as it was confirmed he will not be part of the Three Lions' World Cup squad this summer, Adam Wharton will play a leading role in the middle of the park. Eventually forced to stay put at Selhurst Park back in January, French marksman Jean-Philippe Mateta will spearhead Glasner's charge.
Rayo Vallecano
As for the visitors, signing off their respective domestic campaign with a rugged 2-1 victory away at Alaves, Rayo Vallecano are enjoying what has become quite the purple patch. Putting in a rugged semi-final performance against French outfit Strasbourg earlier in the month as they secured a 2-0 aggregate win, Inigo Perez's side will travel over to Leipzig riding a major wave of momentum. Laying down a La Liga marker on February 17th as they secured an eye-catching 2-0 win against Villarreal, the Madrid-based outfit are unbeaten in all of their previous nine consecutive appearances across all competitions. Likewise, despite being pencilled in as a real underdog contender here, Perez's side have continued to impress on their travels over recent times. Including a 2-0 win against local rivals Getafe last month, Vallecano are unbeaten in their last four matchups on the road (three wins, one draw).
Rayo Vallecano Team News
Despite serving a La Liga suspension away at Alaves over the weekend, former Athletic Bilbao midfielder Unai Lopez should be handed an immediate full recall. However, not featuring since the middle of April, Italian defender Luis Felipe remains on the sidelines with a hamstring issue.
Remarkably bagging both semi-final strikes against Strasbourg and now notching five goals in his previous eight appearances across all competitions, Brazilian striker Alemao will lead the line in Germany. One-time Newcastle United defender Florian Lejeune should return at the heart of Vallecano's defence after being handed a full domestic rest a few days ago.
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano Key Factors to Consider
- Wednesday's iconic Europa Conference League final in Germany will be the first meeting between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano.
- The Eagles could only muster two points from any of their final five Premier League appearances.
- Vallecano are unbeaten in their previous four matchups on the road (three wins, one draw).
- Palace have registered just a single clean sheet from any of their previous 11 straight outings across all fronts.
- The Eagles have shipped at least a pair of goals in five of their previous six matchups away from Selhurst Park.
Conclusion
While Crystal Palace might travel over to Germany for Wednesday's showpiece even pencilled in as a standout contender, Glasner's side should be bracing themselves for a tricky test on foreign soil. Showing some extended issues away from Selhurst Park, the Eagles will meet a Rayo Vallecano squad who are at the heart of a real purple patch. With the Spanish outfit now unbeaten in all of their previous nine consecutive appearances across all competitions, they will be confident of testing a leaky Palace defence on Wednesday night.
Verdict: Alemao over 0.5 shots on target
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker: Dachbet
