The Red Bull Arena Leipzig hosts the UEFA Europa Conference League Final on Wednesday, with both Crystal Palace and Rayo Vallecano looking to land their first major European trophy. Both clubs will be playing in their first-ever European Final, and Palace head to Germany as the bookmaker’s favourites. The bookies have reached this conclusion because the Eagles have a strong squad on paper and the Premier League is strong. However, while Palace have a good chance, I feel that Rayo have been underestimated and I’m going for a 15/2 double that backs the Madrid side to upset the odds.
UEFA Europa Conference League Final: Crystal Palace vs Rayo Vallecano Bet Builder Tips
| Market | Odds at MyStake | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Rayo Vallecano to Win | 79/25 | 0.5 |
| Under 2.5 Goals | 73/100 | 1 |
| Bet Builder | 15/2 | 1 |
Odds correct at 11:20 BST on 25/05/2026. Odds subject to change.
I have studied the form of both teams in Europe and domestically, paying particular attention to the run in. While I rate Palace as a good side with a strong squad and an astute manager, I feel that Rayo have been dismissed far too easily by the bookies. I am going for the team from Vallecas to spring a surprise in a 15/2 bet builder with Mystake, one of the top international betting sites.
Rayo Vallecano to Win
While there has been plenty of criticism of the overall standard of the Premier League this season, I believe that England’s top division is still the strongest of Europe’s top five leagues. However, Palace have had a difficult season, finishing 15th in the Premier League and being dumped out of the FA Cup by non-league Macclesfield, with boss Oliver Glasner announcing in January that he would be moving on in the summer. Their Conference League run has, to an extent, papered over the cracks, with the 2025 FA Cup winners finishing their Premier League campaign with three defeats from five.
Rayo, by contrast, finished eighth in La Liga with three wins and two draws in their last five domestic games. However, it should be noted that they finished only eight points above the relegation zone. Rayo have been defensively solid in La Liga, with only 44 conceded. Their problem has been scoring goals, with only 41 in 38 games.
You would have been quoted long odds at the start of the season if you had backed Rayo to be the only club from Madrid to lift a major trophy. But with Real Madrid and Atleti finishing the season empty-handed, this could be the case. Inigo Perez’s side has the momentum, and I am backing their patient style to bring them a win.
Under 2.5 Goals
Both sides have been relatively sound defensively in Europe, with both conceding 12 goals in 12 games and recording five clean sheets each. Rayo have scored 22 while Palace have found the net 25 times. With all due respect, some of the opposition the two teams overcame in their run to the final wasn’t especially strong. Both sides managed to score only 41 times in 38 league matches, with Palace conceding 51 and Rayo shipping 44 times. I don’t see many goals in this one. Rayo will stay compact, and Palace may not have the imagination to break them down. I’m confident of fewer than three goals in normal time.
