Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano Conference League final

Crystal Palace face Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig tonight, with Oliver Glasner departing the club at the end of the season and his squad needing Adam Wharton to recover from an ankle injury picked up against Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season to be available for the biggest game of their continental campaign.

Palace finished 15th in the Premier League but have been the standout side in the Conference League, scoring 25 goals across the competition with Ismaila Sarr finding the net in each of his last five outings to lead the tournament’s scoring charts with nine goals. Jean-Philippe Mateta brings 15 goals of his own across all competitions this season.

Rayo Vallecano arrive on a nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions, having beaten Deportivo Alaves 2-1 on the final day of La Liga with a 90th-minute winner from Randy Nketa. For Rayo, a win tonight represents the only route back into European football next season after narrowly missing the La Liga Conference League playoff position.

Crystal Palace team news vs Rayo Vallecano

Wharton was introduced at half time against Arsenal on Sunday but lasted only 16 minutes before being withdrawn with an ankle problem. Glasner has described the injury as not serious and the England international has a strong chance of being available tonight.

Chris Richards and Borna Sosa are more serious doubts. Cheick Doucoure and Eddie Nketiah will not be involved. Nketiah’s absence is offset by Sarr’s devastating Conference League form, with the Senegal international averaging a goal every 72 minutes in the knockout rounds.

Crystal Palace predicted XI: Henderson; Riad, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Mateta, Pino

Rayo Vallecano team news vs Crystal Palace

Carlos Martin was taken off after 38 minutes on the final day of La Liga with a back injury and is doubtful tonight. Ilias Akhomach carries a quad problem and Diego Mendez is also a doubt. Luiz Felipe is ruled out for the season.

Isi Palazon is available despite serving a seven-game La Liga ban, as the suspension does not carry over into European competition. He has three Conference League goals this term. Top scorer Alemao, who netted in both legs against Strasbourg in the semi-finals, leads the line.

Rayo Vallecano predicted XI: Batalla; Ratiu, Mendy, Lejeune, Chavarria; Ciss, Valentin; De Frutos, Palazon, Espino; Alemao

What to expect and our Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano prediction

Palace have beaten Zrinjski Mostar, AEK Larnaca, Fiorentina and Shakhtar Donetsk to reach this final, dropping points only when the tie was already secure. Rayo are dangerous and arrive in better recent form, but the quality difference between a Premier League side at full throttle in European football and a La Liga mid-table club is significant.

Sarr’s nine-goal run is the most compelling single factor in this tie. If he continues that form tonight, Palace will win comfortably. Glasner could yet leave Selhurst Park with an FA Cup, a Community Shield and a Conference League trophy in three successive competitions, which would represent an extraordinary valedictory chapter. Prediction: Crystal Palace 3-1 Rayo Vallecano.