The road to the 2025/2026 UEFA Conference League final became clear after two decisive semifinal second-leg matches were played on May 7. English club Crystal Palace and Spanish side Rayo Vallecano emerged victorious, booking their tickets to the championship match in Leipzig.
In the first semifinal, Crystal Palace hosted Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk. The home side secured a 2-1 victory on the night, which proved more than enough to advance. This result, combined with their performance in the first leg, gave Crystal Palace a commanding 5-2 aggregate victory, sending them through to the final.
The other semifinal saw French club Strasbourg welcome Rayo Vallecano. The Spanish visitors managed to grind out a crucial 1-0 away win. This narrow but significant result meant Rayo Vallecano progressed with a 2-0 aggregate scoreline over the two legs, ending Strasbourg's European campaign.
With the semifinal stage complete, all eyes now turn to the grand finale. The 2025/2026 Conference League final is scheduled to take place on May 27. The venue for this year's showpiece event is the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany, which will host the two finalists as they battle for the European trophy.
This season's final will crown a new champion, as the previous winner was not among the final four. The 2024/2025 edition of the tournament was won by Chelsea. The English giants claimed the title with a dominant 4-1 victory over Spanish club Real Betis in last year's final.
The upcoming final between Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano promises an intriguing clash of styles and ambitions, as both clubs seek to lift a major European trophy for the first time in their history.
Based on reporting from Чемпионат.com.
