All you need to know about the Conference League final

Crystal Palace play Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday in Leipzig, Germany. Palace were originally set for Europa League after winning the 2024-25 FA Cup, but were moved to the Conference League for breaching multi-club ownership rules. Their FA Cup title defense ended in the third round with a 2-1 loss to Macclesfield. Palace finished 15th in the Premier League, while Rayo Vallecano finished eighth in La Liga. The final is at Red Bull Arena, which opened after reconstruction from 2000 to 2004 and hosted major international matches. Both teams scored freely, each winning eight matches or ties, and both recorded five clean sheets with 12 goals conceded, suggesting a close contest between two attacking sides.

"Crystal Palace will take on Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on Wednesday in Leipzig, Germany. Palace had technically qualified for this season's Europa League following their 2024-25 FA Cup victory, but were demoted to the Conference League for breaching multi-club ownership rules. Victory in the final would bring a positive end to an otherwise disappointing season for the Eagles. Their bid to defend their FA cup title was ended in the third round of the competition by National League North side Macclesfield, who shocked the title holders with a 2-1 victory."

"The 47,800-capacity Red Bull Arena, home to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, will host the final, which kicks off at 20:00 BST. It was built as a new stadium on the site of the existing, 100,000-capacity Zentralstadion, with the reconstruction taking place from 2000-2004. Now the 15th-largest capacity stadium in Germany, it was used as a venue for group-stage and last-16 matches in the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2024. Stadiums for major European finals are selected by Uefa, with football associations able to bid for their chance to host."

"Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano have taken very different routes to the final, but the numbers suggest a tight contest between two of the competition's most dangerous attacking sides. Both teams have scored freely and won eight matches or ties on their way to Leipzig. They also have identical defensive records - five clean sheets and 12 goals conceded - underlining how little separates them. Palace reached the final as the competition's most productive attacking side. Their 25-goal tally is the highest in this season's Conference League, and no team has taken more shots or hit the target more often."

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