Rayo Vallecano

Former Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is poised to take his first senior managerial position, reportedly agreeing terms with Slovakian champions Slovan Bratislava. The move will see Toure lead a club preparing for the UEFA Champions League qualifying stages.

Nigerian midfielder Christantus Uche has been honored with the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League Fans' Goal of the Season award for his spectacular trivela finish against KuPS Kuopio.

Crystal Palace's recent UEFA Conference League victory sets a high bar for rivals Brighton & Hove Albion, who now prepare for their own European campaign.

Both Shakhtar Donetsk and Strasbourg showcased significant collective strength and tactical discipline, each reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League during the 2025/26 season.

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has offered his perspective on Jude Bellingham's potential future move to Anfield, while also identifying areas for the England international midfielder to enhance his game.

The UEFA Conference League winners are in the process of replacing Oliver Glasner with recruitment likelier once a manager is in place.

Hibernian FC has been confirmed as a seeded team for the UEFA Conference League second qualifying round draw, offering a more favourable initial path in their second consecutive European campaign.

Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian midfielder Isaque Silva has been awarded the UEFA Conference League Goal of the Week for his spectacular overhead kick against Lech Poznań. The 19-year-old's strike is also a contender for Goal of the Season.

English clubs have won 21 of 21 knockout ties in the Europa and Conference Leagues, but their financial advantage creates stark mismatches while elite Champions League opposition exposes limitations.

Crystal Palace claimed their first-ever European trophy, defeating Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the UEFA Conference League final at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig. Jean-Philippe Mateta's second-half goal proved decisive, securing a historic triumph for the English club.

As the UEFA Conference League final approaches, an expert perspective offers Crystal Palace fans a detailed preview of their Spanish opponents, Rayo Vallecano. Both clubs are set to make history in their first-ever European final.

UEFA has imposed significant fines and stadium sanctions on Shakhtar Donetsk and AEK Larnaca following incidents of discriminatory behavior by their supporters during recent Conference League matches. Both clubs faced penalties from European football's governing body.

Birmingham's Victoria Square welcomed the UEFA Europa League and UEFA Conference League trophies, marking the final stop of a European tour designed to engage fans before the highly anticipated finals later this month.

Emanuel Emegha faced hostile reactions from Strasbourg ultras after the club's Conference League elimination, with the forward's impending transfer to Chelsea intensifying tensions between player ambition and fan loyalty.

Arsenal, Aston Villa, and Crystal Palace have achieved a landmark feat by advancing to the finals of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League. This marks the first time clubs from a single nation have reached all three showpieces in one season.

Aidan Perkins forecasts a narrow Nottingham Forest victory over Aston Villa in Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg at the City Ground. He also tips Braga, Shakhtar Donetsk and Strasbourg to take leads in the other ties across both competitions.

New York seeks to extend its 1-0 series lead over Atlanta tonight at Madison Square Garden, leaning on home dominance and star power from Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns. The Knicks enter as heavy favorites amid playoff intensity.

AEK Athens stare down a 3-0 hole in the Conference League quarters, hosting Rayo Vallecano with home fire roaring. Can they summon a miracle, or will Rayo's counters seal the deal?

A bruising 4-1 defeat to Caykur Rizespor exposes defensive cracks, yet Samsunspor's top-half push and Conference League heroics keep Europa dreams alive.

Iñigo Pérez tempers excitement after a gritty 1-0 win over Real Valladolid, insisting survival trumps Europe talk—but Rayo's unbeaten run and Conference League quarterfinal push tell a bolder story of momentum.

Mikael Ishak and Marius Mouandilmadji are deadlocked at the top of the 2025-26 UEFA Conference League scoring charts with seven or eight goals apiece, turning the final stage into a personal duel with massive implications for their teams' knockout hopes.

Ilias Akhomach and Unai López strike early to give Rayo a commanding first-leg advantage in the UEFA Conference League quarterfinals, defying possession stats in a tactical masterclass at Estadio de Vallecas.

In a tense, low-scoring battle at Estadio de Vallecas, Rayo Vallecano secured a precious **1-0** first-leg victory against Greek leaders AEK Athens, leveraging home advantage and tactical discipline to take control of their UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final tie.

Ilias Akhomach and Unai López fire Rayo Vallecano to a **2-0 halftime lead** over unbeaten-away giants AEK Athens in the UEFA Conference League quarterfinal first leg, igniting dreams of a historic semifinal at Estadio de Vallecas.

Crystal Palace face Fiorentina in a Premier League vs Serie A showdown, while Shakhtar Donetsk and Rayo Vallecano embody European resilience. These quarter-finals promise drama as underdogs chase glory and Europa League dreams.

In a cagey **0-0 draw** at Mewa Arena, Mainz 05 etched their name into club history with a first-ever UEFA Conference League quarter-final appearance, but Strasbourg's ironclad away form leaves the tie on a knife-edge ahead of the second leg.

Rayo Vallecano host AEK Athens in a milestone UEFA Conference League quarter-final first leg, chasing European glory at Vallecas with home advantage and tactical nous under Íñigo Pérez.

FSV Mainz 05 host Racing Strasbourg in a pulsating UEFA Conference League quarter-final first leg, pitting Bundesliga grit against Ligue 1 flair. With Mainz chasing European glory for the first time and Strasbourg unbeaten in 10, this cross-border clash promises fireworks.