- Crystal Palace face Rayo Vallecano in Conference League final
- Will be the third time they have faced a team from Spain
- What can they expect in Leipzig?
Crystal Palace confirmed their place in the Conference League final after beating Ukrainian giants Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 at Selhurst Park on Thursday. The fans that packed out the ground celebrated long into the night and made their preparations ahead of a trip to Leipzig.
The team that will meet them in the final is La Liga side Rayo Vallecano, who beat Strasbourg, one of the favourites for the competition, after winning the league stage without losing a single game.
As Oliver Glasner’s men return to Premier League action before their clash on the continent, here is a look back at times the Eagles have taken on Spanish teams in the past.
Crystal Palace Spanish Foes
The first time the Eagles came face-to-face with a club from Spain dates back to the 1960s. At that time, they were a comfortable mid-table team in the Fourth Division, yet it was an ambitious period at the club, led by new chairman Arthur Wait.
By the end of the decade, they had climbed through the ranks of English football and reached the promised land, the First Division, though much work was done by the new board on and off the pitch.
In 1962, new infrastructure was installed at Selhurst Park, and there was no better way to mark the occasion than to meet five-time European Cup winners Real Madrid, which was met by a substantial number of supporters coming to see the third-tier club.
Los Blancos had a star-studded squad, with legends of old in their team such as Alfredo Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa and Ferenc Puskas.
It was the first time the Spanish giants had ever played in the capital of England, and they only just about won, beating the Eagles 4-3 in South London, a team that is one of the most iconic of all time.
It would take 60 years before paths would meet again, this time against Sevilla in a preseason friendly in Detroit. Once again, the Spanish team knew a thing or two about silverware in Europe, coming off the back of Europa League success.
Over 20,000 fans were packed inside the sweltering sun at Comerica Park, though it was Sevilla who took the lead thanks to former Champions League winner Ivan Rakitic just before the break.
The second half saw chances go both ways, with neither team wanting to lose despite it being a friendly. Luckily for the Eagles, Eberechi Eze drew the game level with 20 minutes of the game remaining, but that would be the last action of the game. Three years on, they get ready for their third test against a Spanish club.
What to Expect in Germany
The 27th of May is now a date circled in red on all Palace fans’ calendars, as many from South London will be making the trip, though it won’t be easy when they face Los Franjirrojos.
Just like the Selhurst Park outfit, they remain outside the Top 10 in their division, though they can pull off shock performances against better teams, such as a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid earlier this season.
Vallecano manager Inigo Perez enjoys seeing his team press the opposition high, forcing them into mistakes, whilst having fast-attacking options to spring traps when they pick up the ball.
Glasner has shown he knows what it takes to win European silverware when he was at Frankfurt, and just like the fans, he will be hoping the third time is the charm against Spanish sides.
