How we did it: Timeline of Palace's Conference League win in all its glory

Club

30 May 2026

Crystal Palace have won a major European trophy and it's only just starting to sink in.

In Oliver Glasner's final game as Manager, the Eagles reached new heights by claiming the Conference League trophy after Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal was enough to beat Rayo Vallecano.

Here's how just over 48 hours produced memories that will last a lifetime...

Tuesday, 11:00 BST

The Palace travelling squad conduct their final training session before the Final at Copers Cope in glorious South London sunshine.

The players and staff then make their way to the airport to fly out to Leipzig. Many thousands of Eagles are already travelling over to Germany, with thousands more heading out on the day of the game via a variety of routes whether on plane or boat, train or bus.

18:00 local time

After landing in Leipzig, the team head straight to the venue for a first inspection of the Leipzig Stadium.

Oliver Glasner, Dean Henderson and Yéremy Pino then face the media in the Manager's final pre-match press conference as Palace boss.

"It would mean a lot, but not for me personally," Glasner says. "I think especially for the players, for the group. I know how hard every single player, every single one of the staff worked throughout the season."

Afterwards the team head back to a nearby hotel, their base ahead of the Final.

Throughout the evening fans gather in the city centre enjoying the local hospitality.

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Pre-match Press Conference: Rayo Vallecano

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Wednesday, 09:00 local time

12 hours to go until kick-off at the Leipzig Stadium. Whilst it remains the calm before the storm in the 47,000-capacity arena, plenty of Palace shirts, flags and hats can be spotted around the city centre.

After the traditional morning game of head tennis, the players relax ahead of the 60th and biggest game of the 2025/26 season.

Oliver Glasner | Let's make history... Again.

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14:00 local time

Fans enjoying the German sunshine with spectacular scenes across Leipzig, including at the Palace Fanzone.

The likes of Mark Bright, John Salako, Scott Dann, Joel Ward, and current players Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucouré, all make appearances as the atmosphere ramps up another level.

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19:00 local time

The team bus departs the hotel for Leipzig Stadium, with the players arriving at the venue roughly 20 minutes later.

Much of Leipzig city centre is now a sea of red and blue shirts combined with the red and white shirts of Rayo Vallecano, with a fan march to the stadium soon to get underway.

It's a first European final as well for the Spanish side and their supporters have also travelled in their numbers to create a carnival atmosphere.

19:30 local time

The final teamsheets are submitted to UEFA. Oliver Glasner is able to name Adam Wharton in his midfield, despite an injury scare in the previous match against Arsenal.

Chris Richards is on the bench after his ankle injury, with Chadi Riad coming in. That's the only change from the XI that started the semi-final second leg against Shakhtar in our previous European outing.

The players leave the dressing room for the first time for the traditional pre-match pitch walk.

Conference League Final | Oliver Glanser | Pre-match Interview

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20:45 local time

After completing their pre-match warm up, the Palace squad heads back in to the changing room for final preparations.

The stadium is already filling up and rocking, with a rousing rendition of Glad All Over on the pre-match playlist.

A few minutes later as the teams enter the pitch and past the trophy for the pre-match handshakes, a stunning tifo is then unveiled at the Palace end....

21:00 local time

The game kicks-off amidst an incredible atmosphere from both sets of fans.

While it's a cagey start by both teams, Palace's attacking trio of Ismaïla Sarr, Yéremy Pino and Jean-Philippe Mateta are proving a handful for the Rayo defence.

22:12 local time

The moment we'd all been waiting for. Wharton drives at the Rayo defence and arrows a low shot towards the far corner.

It's saved, but the ball falls perfectly for Jean-Philippe Mateta who can't miss. It's 1-0 to Palace in a European Final!

In Leipzig, at the watch party at Selhurst Park, at BOXPARK Croydon and across South London, there's an eruption of limbs. What a moment.

22:58 local time

The full-time whistle is blown by Maurizio Mariani. Crystal Palace are Conference League winners.

Champions of Europe. The engraver starts to carve our name on the trophy as the celebrations begin.

Around 20 minutes later, with the players and staff receiving medals, captain Dean Henderson has the trophy in his hands and lifts it high above his head with loads of gold confetti in the air.

At that precise moment the magnitude of this night begins to sink in.

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Midnight local time

During Glasner's final post-match press conference, he declares that "the DJ is waiting" at the post-match party, before thanking the media.

Henderson is then one of the last to board the team bus which returns back to the hotel.

Once there, the celebrations continue long into the night!

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Thursday, 16:00 BST

The Palace team plane touches back down on UK soil with some additional luggage: the UEFA Conference League trophy.

After 60 matches – officially Palace's longest-ever season for competitive fixtures – culminated in the best way possible, there were smiles aplenty among the Palace camp.

Check out the best images from the flight here.

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How we did it: Timeline of Palace's Conference League win in all its glory

Club

30 May 2026

Crystal Palace have won a major European trophy and it's only just starting to sink in.

In Oliver Glasner's final game as Manager, the Eagles reached new heights by claiming the Conference League trophy after Jean-Philippe Mateta's goal was enough to beat Rayo Vallecano.

Here's how just over 48 hours produced memories that will last a lifetime...

Tuesday, 11:00 BST

The Palace travelling squad conduct their final training session before the Final at Copers Cope in glorious South London sunshine.

18:00 local time

After landing in Leipzig, the team head straight to the venue for a first inspection of the Leipzig Stadium.

Oliver Glasner, Dean Henderson and Yéremy Pino then face the media in the Manager's final pre-match press conference as Palace boss.

Afterwards the team head back to a nearby hotel, their base ahead of the Final.

Throughout the evening fans gather in the city centre enjoying the local hospitality.

Sign up or Login to watch this video

Sign up or Login to watch this video

Wednesday, 09:00 local time

After the traditional morning game of head tennis, the players relax ahead of the 60th and biggest game of the 2025/26 season.

Sign up or Login to watch this video

14:00 local time

Fans enjoying the German sunshine with spectacular scenes across Leipzig, including at the Palace Fanzone.

The likes of Mark Bright, John Salako, Scott Dann, Joel Ward, and current players Eddie Nketiah and Cheick Doucouré, all make appearances as the atmosphere ramps up another level.

Sign up or Login to watch this video

19:00 local time

The team bus departs the hotel for Leipzig Stadium, with the players arriving at the venue roughly 20 minutes later.

Much of Leipzig city centre is now a sea of red and blue shirts combined with the red and white shirts of Rayo Vallecano, with a fan march to the stadium soon to get underway.

It's a first European final as well for the Spanish side and their supporters have also travelled in their numbers to create a carnival atmosphere.

19:30 local time

The final teamsheets are submitted to UEFA. Oliver Glasner is able to name Adam Wharton in his midfield, despite an injury scare in the previous match against Arsenal.

The players leave the dressing room for the first time for the traditional pre-match pitch walk.

Sign up or Login to watch this video

20:45 local time

After completing their pre-match warm up, the Palace squad heads back in to the changing room for final preparations.

The stadium is already filling up and rocking, with a rousing rendition of Glad All Over on the pre-match playlist.

A few minutes later as the teams enter the pitch and past the trophy for the pre-match handshakes, a stunning tifo is then unveiled at the Palace end....

21:00 local time

The game kicks-off amidst an incredible atmosphere from both sets of fans.

While it's a cagey start by both teams, Palace's attacking trio of Ismaïla Sarr, Yéremy Pino and Jean-Philippe Mateta are proving a handful for the Rayo defence.

22:12 local time

The moment we'd all been waiting for. Wharton drives at the Rayo defence and arrows a low shot towards the far corner.

It's saved, but the ball falls perfectly for Jean-Philippe Mateta who can't miss. It's 1-0 to Palace in a European Final!

In Leipzig, at the watch party at Selhurst Park, at BOXPARK Croydon and across South London, there's an eruption of limbs. What a moment.

22:58 local time

The full-time whistle is blown by Maurizio Mariani. Crystal Palace are Conference League winners.

Champions of Europe. The engraver starts to carve our name on the trophy as the celebrations begin.

Around 20 minutes later, with the players and staff receiving medals, captain Dean Henderson has the trophy in his hands and lifts it high above his head with loads of gold confetti in the air.

At that precise moment the magnitude of this night begins to sink in.

Sign up or Login to watch this video

Midnight local time

During Glasner's final post-match press conference, he declares that "the DJ is waiting" at the post-match party, before thanking the media.

Henderson is then one of the last to board the team bus which returns back to the hotel.

Once there, the celebrations continue long into the night!

Sign up or Login to watch this video

Thursday, 16:00 BST

The Palace team plane touches back down on UK soil with some additional luggage: the UEFA Conference League trophy.

After 60 matches – officially Palace's longest-ever season for competitive fixtures – culminated in the best way possible, there were smiles aplenty among the Palace camp.

Check out the best images from the flight here.

Sign up or Login to watch this video

Related News

More News