Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has hailed his club's monumental achievement after the Eagles secured their first European trophy in the Conference League final. A narrow second-half victory over Spanish side Rayo Vallecano has not only delivered historic silverware but also guaranteed the South London club an immediate passage to the Europa League next season.
Jean-Philippe Mateta was buzzing after his decisive goal secured Crystal Palace's first-ever European title with a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano. The Frenchman struck in the second half to cap off a historic night for the South London club at the Red Bull Arena.
Adam Wharton was the star of the show as Oliver Glasner gave Crystal Palace fans the perfect parting gift by leading the Londoners to a fully deserved 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the final of the Conference League on Wednesday night. Right from the first whistle, Wharton had the look of a man determined to make a mockery of Thomas Tuchel's decision to leave him out of the England squad for this summer's World Cup in North America.
Crystal Palace supporters were caught up in violent scenes in Leipzig just 24 hours before the Conference League final. As travelling fans gathered in the city centre to celebrate the highly anticipated match against Rayo Vallecano, an organised group suddenly launched a targeted ambush that required immediate police intervention.
U.S. Men's National Team defender Chris Richards is facing a race against time to be ready for the upcoming Conference League final, Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner revealed on Thursday. The American defender suffered an ankle injury in a recent match against Brentford, and that injury could impact World Cup preparation for the U.S. men's national team star.
Crystal Palace lined up a first European campaign on the back of their historic FA Cup win in 2025 and are now bound for the Conference League final. That is not the competition that they expected to grace, but a protracted qualification squabble with Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest delivered a change of plans. Ex-Eagles star Clinton Morrison has told GOAL why there should not be any regrets in south London or the East Midlands.
Diego Moreira hailed teammate Emanuel Emegha after the striker attempted to calm furious supporters following Strasbourg’s Conference League semi-final exit. Boos and insults echoed around Stade de la Meinau despite the club’s historic European run following their defeat to Spanish side Rayo Vallecano on home soil on Thursday.
Barcelona maintained their four-point lead at the summit of La Liga with a gritty 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano, but the match was partially overshadowed by a moment of apparent friction between Lamine Yamal and Hansi Flick. Yamal was visibly angry after being withdrawn in the closing stages of the game at the Spotify Camp Nou. This rare show of dissent from the 18-year-old has sparked immediate debate regarding the dynamic between the manager and his star pupil.
Barcelona players surprised fans at the Spotify Camp Nou by warming up in retro jerseys to celebrate the 46th birthday of club legend Ronaldinho. The Brazilian icon, who won the Ballon d'Or and Champions League during a transformative spell in Catalonia, remains a beloved figure. The tribute bridged the gap between the club's glorious past and its promising current era.
La Liga has announced an unprecedented "Retro Matchday" scheduled for April, which will see the majority of Spanish professional clubs don kits inspired by iconic designs from their past. However, the news that Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the few clubs opting out of the wardrobe change has overshadowed the initiative. While most of the league is embracing the nostalgia, the two biggest teams in Spain will maintain their modern attire.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has reignited the fierce war of words with bitter rivals Real Madrid, publicly mocking the penalty that gifted Kylian Mbappe a late winner against Rayo Vallecano. The outspoken Catalan chief was spotted openly ridiculing the decision, labelling the incident a "dive", suggesting that Alvaro Arbeloa's side are benefitting from favourable officiating as tensions between the two clubs reach boiling point.
Jude Bellingham has suffered a serious injury scare during England’s countdown to the 2026 World Cup. The Real Madrid midfielder was left clutching at his hamstring during a La Liga clash with Rayo Vallecano. He was clearly in some pain, after crumpling to the turf, and has handed untimely fitness concerns to Blancos boss Alvaro Arbeloa and Three Lions manager Thomas Tuchel.
Xabi Alonso has admitted that Trent Alexander-Arnold is ready to start for Real Madrid this weekend. The England international has endured a testing start to life in Madrid following his high-profile move to the capital from Liverpool, with injuries restricting the 27-year-old to just two league starts. However, the defender is fit to feature from the off against Rayo Vallecano on Sunday.
David Alaba has rejoined Real Madrid group training and is expected to be in the squad for Sunday's La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano, providing a major boost for Xabi Alonso. The defender returns from a calf injury that has seen him miss four games, as the club continues to cope with injuries to Antonio Rudiger, Dani Carvajal and Aurelien Tchouameni.
Julian Alvarez silenced talk of a rift with Diego Simeone in the best way possible, by firing a stunning hat-trick that sealed Atletico Madrid’s 3-2 comeback win over Rayo Vallecano. After the match, the Argentine forward addressed the lip-reading controversy from the Mallorca game, insisting his frustration was misinterpreted and that his bond with Simeone remains intact.
Julian Alvarez ended his goal drought in spectacular fashion with a hat-trick that sealed Atletico Madrid’s 3-2 win over Rayo Vallecano, offering a lifeline to Diego Simeone’s inconsistent side. While Simeone hailed the Argentine as Atleti’s “best player” and called for him to stay long-term, the result only briefly masks the club’s broader struggles as they prepare for a decisive Madrid derby.
Rayo Vallecano
