Crystal Palace are just one match away from completing one of the most extraordinary chapters in the club’s 121-year history after reaching the UEFA Conference League final with a thrilling victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Eagles defeated the Ukrainian side 2-1 at a roaring Selhurst Park on Thursday night to seal a 5-2 aggregate triumph and book their place in the final in Leipzig, where they will face Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday, 27 May.
For a club that initially fought to avoid playing in the Conference League, Palace are now on the brink of lifting their first European trophy.
Crystal Palace’s European adventure began in controversy after the club were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League following UEFA’s ruling over multi-club ownership regulations.
American businessman John Textor, who held a 43% stake in Palace before selling it in June, was also majority owner of Lyon, who qualified for the Europa League after finishing higher domestically.
Despite an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, Palace lost their case and were forced into Europe’s third-tier competition, while Nottingham Forest took their Europa League place.
Since then, however, Palace have embraced the challenge.
The club’s remarkable journey has taken them across Europe, with trips to Norway, Poland, France, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Italy and Ireland before reaching their historic final in Germany.
Victory against Rayo Vallecano would cap an unprecedented era of success following FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs in 2025.
Manager Oliver Glasner, who is set to leave Crystal Palace this summer despite only arriving in February 2024, is now on the verge of delivering a third trophy in little over a year.
The Austrian admitted even he could hardly believe what the club has achieved.
“I spoke to the chairman before the match and asked if he ever imagined we would be playing in the semi-final of a European competition,” Glasner said.
“This is what you achieve when you work hard and stay together during difficult moments. We’ve had many tough moments, but the reward is incredible.”
Despite announcing his departure earlier this year, Glasner continues to enjoy overwhelming support from Palace fans, who serenaded him throughout the night at Selhurst Park.
“Some supporters are saying thank you for these exciting years together,” he added.
“What these players have done for Crystal Palace is unbelievable. Winning the FA Cup, the Community Shield and now reaching a European final — a few years ago it felt impossible.”
The atmosphere at Selhurst Park reached another level during Thursday’s semi-final clash.
From deafening renditions of Glad All Over to pyrotechnics lighting up the stadium, Palace supporters created one of the most memorable nights in the club’s modern history.
“I really enjoy the European nights at Selhurst,” Glasner said.
“The excitement has grown with every game in this competition. It was a fantastic atmosphere and a huge achievement against a very strong Shakhtar side.”
Captain Dean Henderson echoed the emotion felt across the stadium.
“It’s incredible for the football club,” the goalkeeper said.
“The connection between the players and the fans is unbelievable. To reach a European final with Crystal Palace is something special.”
For decades, Crystal Palace were a club with little silverware to celebrate.
Before their recent rise, the Zenith Data Systems Cup victory over Everton in 1991 stood as one of the few major highlights in the club’s history.
Now, Palace supporters are living through a golden era.
Eberechi Eze’s winning goal against Manchester City secured the club’s first-ever FA Cup title, before the Eagles defeated Liverpool on penalties to lift the Community Shield.
Despite squad challenges, injuries and uncertainty over key players such as Marc Guehi and Jean-Philippe Mateta, Palace have continued to defy expectations.
Their European campaign has come during a turbulent domestic season that included a 12-match winless run and a shock FA Cup exit to sixth-tier Macclesfield.
Yet Glasner has guided the club through the chaos and now stands one victory away from immortality.
Crystal Palace’s season will now be defined by one final challenge in Leipzig.
Glasner believes his side can complete the perfect ending by lifting the Conference League trophy and securing European football once again next season.
“We want to finish the season in the perfect way — and we can do it,” Glasner said.
“I told the players not to do it for me, but for themselves, for the club and for the fans.”
The Austrian then summed up Palace’s growing ambition with a memorable quote.
“They’ve had a taste with the FA Cup and Community Shield, and now they want honey again. They don’t want just avocado anymore — they want something sweeter.”
