Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano out of shadow of big-city neighbors in Conference League final

LONDON: (May 26) There’s an ironic prize on offer if Crystal Palace can beat Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday: A spot in the competition Palace originally should have been playing in anyway.

A season which began with Palace in court appealing in vain against demotion from the Europa League ends with a chance to win its first-ever European trophy in the competition it didn’t want to play in. The winner gets a Europa League place for 2026-27.

It’s the last game at Palace for Oliver Glasner, the club’s most successful coach, before he leaves at the end of the season. Midfielder Will Hughes has called on the English team to give Glasner “a proper send-off” with the trophy.