Live football build-up | Crystal Palace v Rayo Vallecano

All the news from the build-up of Crystal Palace's first European final

Can they make history?

Author | Ajay

#CPFC

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— Toby Reid (@tmreid.bsky.social) 27 May 2026 at 18:42

The Red Bull Arena, the home of RB Leipzig, will host tonight's final. Beautiful German sunshine has greeted the players and fans as they have arrived at the stadium.

The Premier League side have sold out their 11,372 tickets in the 47,800-capacity stadium. In truth, they could have sold many more and many have travelled to Germany to watch the match in local bars and pubs.

This means more?

You'd have to say that these finals are more exciting when it involves teams who have never had as much success. 

It was nice for Chelsea to win this competition last season, but it wouldn't  have meant as much for them as it would do for Palace (or Vallecano) to win it tonight.

Team news

The big news for Crystal Palace fans is that Adam Wharton is fit to start after coming off in Sunday's defeat against Arsenal with an ankle issue. 

Chris Richards was described by boss Oliver Glasner as "50-50" but he makes the bench. Overall, Glasner makes six changes from the defeat by the Gunners on his final game at the club.

The starting eleven for both sides is below.

Crystal Palace | Henderson; Riad, Lacroix, Canvot; Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell; Sarr, Pino; Mateta.

Subs | Benitez, Matthews, Clyne, Lerma, Richards, Sosa, Cardines, Hughes, Devenny, Johnson, Guessand, Strand Larsen

The big news from Rayo Vallecano's is that winger Ilias Akhomach is only fit enough for the bench. Alvaro Garcia is ready to start.

Rayo Vallecano | Batalla; Ratiu, Lejeune, Pathe Ciss, Chavarria; Valentin, Unai Lopez; Alvaro Garcia, Isi Palazon, De Frutos; Alemao.