By OkayGoal 
Crystal Palace name their lineup for tonight’s UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, with Oliver Glasner‘s biggest selection call centring on whether Adam Wharton has recovered sufficiently from the ankle injury he sustained against Arsenal on Sunday to start the biggest game of the Eagles’ season.
Wharton was introduced at half time in the 2-1 defeat to Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League but lasted only 16 minutes before being withdrawn. Glasner described the injury as not serious and the England international has a strong chance of being available tonight, which would be a major boost given his importance to how Palace control the tempo in midfield.
Chris Richards and Borna Sosa are more serious doubts. Cheick Doucoure and Eddie Nketiah will not be involved, with the latter’s thigh injury ruling him out of what would have been a fitting occasion for a striker of his experience on the European stage.
Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs Rayo Vallecano tonight
In central midfield, Wharton’s fitness is the key unknown. If he is passed fit, he and Daichi Kamada form the midfield pairing, with Kamada’s technical quality and pressing intelligence giving Crystal Palace a second dimension alongside Wharton’s defensive structure and distribution. Gabriel Munoz is likely to operate as a right wing-back, giving the team an additional attacking outlet from deeper positions on that side.
The attacking line is where Palace’s genuine match-winning quality is concentrated. Ismaila Sarr starts on the right and is the player every Rayo Vallecano defender will have spent the week preparing for. He has scored in each of his last five Conference League outings and tops the competition’s scoring charts with nine goals, averaging a goal every 72 minutes across the knockout stages.
Jean-Philippe Mateta leads the line as the central striker. Mateta has been Palace’s most reliable goal threat in the Premier League all season and brings physical presence, aerial ability and the kind of direct running that will test Rayo’s defensive block from the first whistle. Yerlan Pino provides the left-side attacking option, with his directness and ability to cut inside on his stronger foot giving Palace variety in their attacks.
Brennan Johnson is the most high-profile option from the bench. The Welshman scored Tottenham’s Europa League final winner in Bilbao last season but has not found the net in 26 appearances for Crystal Palace since his January move. Tonight represents his clearest chance yet to change that narrative and he is well placed to make an impact as an impact substitute if the game opens up.
Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs Vallecano: Henderson; Riad, Lacroix, Canvot, Mitchell; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada; Sarr, Mateta, Pino.
