Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano Predictions

• Palace have gone eight games without a clean sheet
• Rayo are on a nine-game unbeaten run and have scored in each of their last 10
• Both teams have scored in four of Palace’s last five European games

Conference League showpiece could be a nervy affair

Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano are both contesting their first ever European final in Leipzig on Wednesday as the two clubs bid to make a bit of history with a trophy.

This will also be the final game in charge for Palace’s FA Cup winning manager Oliver Glasner and a victory would secure a place in Europe for the Londoners next season as well.

Rayo finished a respectable eighth in La Liga this season and winning on Wednesday represents their only chance for another European adventure next season.

Both teams can strike in Leipzig

The Eagles are the favourites to win in 90 minutes and they are clearly the more likely side to lift the trophy. However, Rayo shouldn’t be underestimated as they have put together a nine-game unbeaten streak ahead of the final and they can make their mark in Germany.

The best angle looks to be backing both teams to score, which is a marginally bigger price than a Palace win, as the Selhurst Park club have struggled for shut-outs lately.

Palace have gone eight games without a clean sheet and both teams have scored in four of their last five games, while Rayo are on a 10-game scoring streak and they’ve seen goals at both ends in three of their last four games.

Glasner can sign off with silverware

English sides have been dominant in Europe this season and in the brief history of this third tier competition. Chelsea and West Ham are among the four previous winners of the Conference League, and Palace can become the third Premier League club and the third from London to take the trophy.

A 2-1 win for Palace seems a reasonable correct score prediction as they’ve been in good form in front of goal domestically recently with five goals across their last four games. They haven’t won since beating Shakhtar Donetsk in the previous round and that is a slight concern, but there is a sense they have been prioritising this competition so their domestic form isn’t a major worry. The Eagles have a bit more quality in their squad than Rayo and they should be able to battle to a win in what could be a tight game inside 90 minutes.

Ismaila Sarr has been sensational for Crystal Palace in the knockout stages of the Conference League as he’s scored in each of his last five appearances in this competition. Sarr has hit six goals across those fixtures and should come into Wednesday’s final reasonably fresh after sitting out the second half against Arsenal, so he looks the best bet for an anytime effort.