Crystal Palace predicted XI vs Rayo Vallecano: Glasner eyes perfect farewell in Conference League final
Crystal Palace face Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on Wednesday evening, knowing they are 90 minutes away from completing the greatest season in the club’s history.
The Eagles contest their first-ever European final with the chance to add the UEFA Conference League to last season’s FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs.
Victory would also provide Oliver Glasner with the perfect send-off in his final match as Crystal Palace manager.
The Austrian departs at the end of the season after transforming Palace into genuine trophy winners, and Wednesday offers one final opportunity to cement his legacy.
Glasner has urged his players to embrace the occasion rather than fear it. Palace have grown throughout the competition.
After an inconsistent league-phase campaign in which they finished 10th, the Eagles exploded into life in the knockout rounds.
Zrinjski Mostar, AEK Larnaca, Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk have all fallen to Glasner’s side, who arrive in Germany as the competition’s top scorers.
However, Rayo Vallecano are no fairytale underdogs.
Inigo Perez has built a fearless, intensely competitive side that has lost just once in their last 10 matches in all competitions.
The Madrid outfit eliminated Strasbourg in the semi-finals and arrive unbeaten in nine matches.
Both clubs are playing in their first European final, adding some tension and unpredictability to Wednesday’s showpiece.
Crystal Palace have won eight Conference League matches this season, the most victories by a club in their debut European campaign.
Palace are the competition’s top scorers with 25 goals.
However, Rayo Vallecano possess the best win rate in European competition history among clubs with 20-plus matches, winning 64% of their continental fixtures.
The Eagles are the first European debutants to reach a major final since Deportivo Alaves in 2001.
Glasner could become only the second Austrian manager to win multiple major European trophies.
Adam Wharton and Chris Richards both trained on Tuesday after recovering from ankle problems.
Glasner, 51, confirmed late decisions will be made on their involvement, with Palace only prepared to start players deemed fully fit. He will likely risk them both.
Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucoure remain unavailable, while Borna Sosa is also expected to miss out.
Ismaila Sarr enters the final with nine goals in the competition and joins Jean-Philippe Mateta, who will spearhead the attack alongside Yeremy Pino.
Dean Henderson; Chadi Riad, Maxence Lacroix, Oumar Canvot; Daniel Munoz, Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, Tyrick Mitchell; Ismaila Sarr, Yeremy Pino; Jean-Philippe Mateta.
