Crystal Palace will look to clinch their first-ever European trophy as they take on Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final in Leipzig on Wednesday night.
Despite being favourites to win the tournament before a ball was kicked, Crystal Palace finished outside the top eight of the league phase table, and had to navigate their way past Zrinjski and AEK, before defeating Fiorentina 4-2 on aggregate in the quarter-finals.
The Eagles then sealed their place in their first-ever European final by defeating 2009 UEFA Cup winners Shakhtar Donetsk home and away, winning 5-2 on aggregate.
Oliver Glasner’s side did end their Premier League campaign on a seven-game winless run, as they were beaten 1-2 at home to newly-crowned champions Arsenal on Sunday – on an afternoon one of my selections landed.
After surviving a scare against AEK Athens in the quarter-finals, Rayo sealed their place in their maiden European final as they secured a pair of 1-0 victories over Strasbourg in the semi-finals.
In contrast to the Eagles, Inigo Perez’s men finished their domestic campaign on a seven-game unbeaten run – as well as losing just two of their previous 16 – but finished just one point behind Getafe in the final European places.
How the bookies view it: Palace favourites
Crystal Palace are favourites to Lift the Trophy in Leipzig on Wednesday night, with bet365 pricing them at just 4/9, but the win inside 90 minutes is a backable 17/20.
Rayo Vallecano are 13/8 to claim their first-ever European trophy, with the win inside regulation time priced at 16/5.
Head to head: First-ever meeting
It will come as no surprise that Wednesday night will be the first-ever competitive meeting between these two clubs.
Players to watch: Sarr to strike again?
Ismaila Sarr has had a terrific personal season for Crystal Palace, as he has scored 19 goals and provided a couple of assists for the Eagles this term.
Seven of those goals have come in the Conference League – with the Senegalese attacker scoring in each of his previous five continental appearances – and he is an appealing 6/5 at PaddyPower to Score or Assist in Leipzig on Wednesday night.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Crystal Palace will be missing the injured Cheick Doucoure and Eddie Nketiah, whilst Chris Richards and Adam Wharton are doubts.
Rayo will be without the injured Jon Pacheco, Luiz Felipe and Ilias Akhomach, whilst Alvaro Garcia is a doubt.
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Richards, Lacroix, Riad, Munoz, Wharton, Kamada, Mitchell, Pino, Sarr, Mateta
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Ratiu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarria, Lopez, Valentin, de Frutos, Palazon, Espino, Alemao
Anything else catch the eye?
Finals like these can often be cagey, but I’m willing to back against that trend and back goals in Leipzig on Wednesday night.
Both Teams to Score has paid out in six of Crystal Palace’s previous eight matches in all competitions, as well as in each of their last four and five of their last six Conference League fixtures away from Selhurst Park.
Five of Rayo’s last six continental clashes on their travels have also seen both teams oblige, and a repeat pays an appealing 10/11 at bet365.
The Eagles do have a far stronger squad on paper and their extra quality should shine through, and the 17/20 on offer at bet365 (with the early payout) on a Palace win inside 90 minutes also appeals.
GambleAware