Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction & Picks - Conference League
Europe - Conference League
New customers only | Commercial content | 21+ age limit | T&Cs apply
by Bradley Gibbs | in Soccer Picks
The second major showpiece event of the 2025/26 European soccer season will take place on Wednesday evening, as relative continental minnows Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano meet in the final of the UEFA Conference League. Both gunning for what would be a first ever continental trophy, the pair will lock horns at Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany.
Back at the start of the competition, both Palace and Vallecano were among the more fancied types, and as the tournament has progressed, the teams from England and Spain have shouldered the pressure and made it all the way to the final.
In the early betting, it is the EPL team that is quite heavily favored, and that’s not really surprising. Relatively speaking, the Eagles are a small club, but they’re not as small as the club that they’re up against, so the men coached by Oliver Glasner were always going to be fancied by the early lines. At odds of +109, the best route to take is ‘Crystal Palace to Score Over 1.5 Goals’.
Limited Offer. Currently at DraftKings
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano Form
Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano Latest Matches
1/6 (17%)
2/6 (33%)
3/6 (50%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
May 24, 2026 - Premier League
May 17, 2026 - Premier League
May 13, 2026 - Premier League
May 10, 2026 - Premier League
May 7, 2026 - Conference League
May 3, 2026 - Premier League
3/6 (50%)
2/6 (33%)
1/6 (17%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
May 24, 2026 - Premier League
May 10, 2026 - Premier League
May 7, 2026 - Conference League
Apr 20, 2026 - Premier League
Apr 12, 2026 - Premier League
Apr 9, 2026 - Conference League
1/6 (17%)
1/6 (17%)
4/6 (67%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
May 17, 2026 - Premier League
May 13, 2026 - Premier League
May 3, 2026 - Premier League
Apr 30, 2026 - Conference League
Apr 25, 2026 - Premier League
Apr 16, 2026 - Conference League
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
May 23, 2026 - LaLiga
May 17, 2026 - LaLiga
May 14, 2026 - LaLiga
May 11, 2026 - LaLiga
May 7, 2026 - Conference League
May 3, 2026 - LaLiga
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
0/6 (0%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
May 17, 2026 - LaLiga
May 11, 2026 - LaLiga
Apr 30, 2026 - Conference League
Apr 26, 2026 - LaLiga
Apr 23, 2026 - LaLiga
Apr 9, 2026 - Conference League
3/6 (50%)
1/6 (17%)
2/6 (33%)
Average stats (Last 6 matchs)
May 23, 2026 - LaLiga
May 14, 2026 - LaLiga
May 7, 2026 - Conference League
May 3, 2026 - LaLiga
Apr 16, 2026 - Conference League
Apr 12, 2026 - LaLiga
Crystal Palace - Rayo Vallecano: Form Analysis
Understandably, after securing their place in the final of this competition, the Eagles have moved with caution domestically, meaning that they haven’t picked up the best results, winning none of their last four, tying two and losing two. However, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be fooled into thinking that recent results are a true reflection of what they’re capable of. Oliver Glasner’s men have been excellent in Europe this season and have more than enough quality to impress on Wednesday.
However, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be fooled into thinking that recent results are a true reflection of what they’re capable of. Oliver Glasner’s men have been excellent in Europe this season and have more than enough quality to impress on Wednesday.
In contrast, qualifying for a first ever continental final has sparked some improved domestic efforts from the Vallecano boys, who despite playing with this huge occasion in mind, ended the LaLiga season with back-to-back wins against Villarreal Alaves, which means that they’ll once again be playing on the continent next season, even if they lose this final, which is far from guaranteed given that they’ve avoided defeat in each of their last nine games in all competitions.
Limited Offer. Currently at DraftKings
Crystal Palace against Rayo Vallecano Lineups: Starting 11
Formation : 3 - 4 - 3
Formation : 4 - 2 - 3 - 1
Substitutes
R. Matthews
W. Benitez
DefenderC. Richards
N. Clyne
B. Sosa
MidfielderJ. Devenny
W. Hughes
J. Lerma
ForwardE. Guessand
J. Strand Larsen
R. Cardines
B. Johnson
A. Molina
D. Cardenas
DefenderN. Mendy
Pacha
I. Balliu
MidfielderP. Diaz
G. Gumbau
ForwardS. Camello
I. Akhomach
O. Trejo
Missing players
C. Doucoure
ForwardE. Nketiah
J. Vertrouwd
MidfielderF. Perez
D. Mendez
ForwardR. Nteka
Crystal Palace & Rayo Vallecano Squad Analysis
Oliver Glasner may not be able to call upon the services of hugely influential midfielder Adam Wharton, who really does make this Palace team tick at times. If the Englishman does miss out, that will be a serious blow for the Eagles, who are also sweating on the fitness of Chris Richards. Eddie Nketiah remains sidelined. Star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta scored as a sub at the weekend and is now expected to be reinstated to the starting XI, and he’ll almost certainly be joined by tournament top scorer Ismaila Sarr.
Star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta scored as a sub at the weekend and is now expected to be reinstated to the starting XI, and he’ll almost certainly be joined by tournament top scorer Ismaila Sarr.
For Vallecano, useful forward/winger Ilias Akhomach, who could feature at the soon-to-start FIFA World Cup for Morocco, may not feature having been out with a muscle injury since the semi-finals of this competition. Fortunately, head coach Inigo Perez has no other serious absentees to contend with. Having come off the bench at the weekend, key contributors Jorge de Frutos, Andrei Ratiu and Pape Ciss are all expected to feature from the outset.
Most goals and assists
Crystal Palace
Rayo Vallecano
I. Sarr
(9 Goals)
Alemao
(4 Goals)
D. Kamada
(4 Assists)
A. Garcia
(3 Assists)
,
I. Palazon
(3 Assists)
Crystal Palace - Rayo Vallecano Key Points
- When the Eagles last played in this competition, they scored multiple goals.
- The Eagles have scored two or more goals in three of their last four UEFA Conference League fixtures.
- In the semi-finals, the Eagles scored multiple goals both home and away.
- Not that long ago in this competition, we saw Vallecano concede three goals against a lesser AEK Athens side.
Limited Offer. Currently at DraftKings
Our Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano Prediction
Naturally, this is a final, so anything can happen, and nerves could easily get the better of either team. However, in all honesty, it's difficult not to envisage the Eagles thriving offensively in this game, and it's super hard to ignore how strong they looked in the final third during the semis. If they deliver a similar performance here, as good as the Vallecano boys have been on the run to this final, Oliver Glasner's men should do lots of damage.
With the pace and power of Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Phillipe Mateta, at the very least, the EPL team looks a little generously priced to score multiple goals against a Vallecano team that not that long ago floundered defensively against AEK Athens.
Our Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano Pick: Crystal Palace to Score Over 1.5 Goals.
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano - Other Interesting Picks
Isi Palazon 1+ Shots on Target
As a secondary option, it's worth siding with Isi Palazon to register a shot on target. The clever and crafty offensive midfielder has often saved his best soccer for the continental stage this season, and it's fair to say that he's been one of Rayo's best performers in the Conference League, scoring some important goals, especially during the latter knockout stages.
The Spaniard has shot with regularity, registering a shot on target both home and away in the semis, registering eight shots on target in his last six games in this competition. Such stats point towards odds of -110 being a little too large to ignore.
Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano match : Frequently asked questions
All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
