Crystal Palace initially had no desire to compete in the Conference League, yet now they stand just one victory away from winning it and etching further history into the club’s legacy.
On one of the most memorable evenings at a fervent and thunderous Selhurst Park, the Eagles overcame Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1, securing a 5-2 aggregate triumph in the semi-finals.
Having already claimed the FA Cup and Community Shield at Wembley earlier in 2025, their extraordinary European adventure began in a Swiss courtroom, where they unsuccessfully appealed against being relegated into the Conference League from the second-tier Europa League.
Since that setback, Palace have never looked back. Their journey has taken them to Norway, Poland, France, Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Italy, and back to Poland, with one final destination remaining: the showpiece event in Germany.
If Palace lift the trophy on Wednesday, 27 May, in Leipzig against Spanish side Rayo Vallecano—who eliminated Gary O’Neil’s Strasbourg 2-0 on aggregate in their semi-final—it would mark an unprecedented chapter of success for the club.
Manager Oliver Glasner, who will depart in the summer after being appointed only in February 2024, is on the brink of securing a third trophy during a remarkable tenure.
Even the 51-year-old could hardly believe what has been accomplished. “I spoke to the chairman before the match, he always comes into my office,” Glasner said afterward. “I asked, ‘Did you ever imagine we would be playing in a European semi-final?’ He said ‘no.’ I replied, ‘When we first talked three years ago, I never thought about it either.’ This is what you achieve through hard work and sticking together in difficult moments—and we’ve had a few. When you stay united through tough times, you earn the reward.”
Electric atmosphere at Selhurst Park
At Selhurst Park on Thursday, the atmosphere reached fever pitch. “I really enjoy the European nights at Selhurst,” Glasner remarked. “We had to grow into the competition, and the fans grew with us. If you look at when we started against Larnaca, the level of excitement kept rising.”
While Shakhtar’s fans bounced in one corner, the home supporters created a fantastic mood, with everyone clapping and cheering. The club anthem ‘Glad All Over’ was never sung louder, with added pyrotechnics enhancing the party spirit. “It was a fantastic atmosphere and a great night at Selhurst,” Glasner added. “It’s a huge achievement, and full credit goes to the players; everyone could see how good Shakhtar are.”
Goalkeeper and captain Dean Henderson summed up the mood: “It’s incredible for the football club. You see the connection between the players and the supporters—it’s fantastic. Unbelievable. When you come off a game like that [the FA Cup final], it gives you confidence and makes you hungry. We’ve got an ambitious group of players as well. It’s pretty incredible, honestly, to get into a European competition with Crystal Palace, never mind reach the final. We need to deliver something special. We also need to earn back what we deserve [Europa League qualification].”
A golden period in the club’s 121-year history
Since Palace were founded in 1905, trophies have been scarce. Until recently, the club had never won a major honour in its first 119 years. But a remarkable renaissance began in 2024, culminating in an FA Cup victory over Aston Villa at Wembley in April 2025, followed by a Community Shield win against Manchester City. Now, they are on the verge of European glory.
“I can’t say much more,” added Glasner. “It’s fantastic for the club, the fans, everyone. We’ll celebrate now and then focus on the next two Premier League games before meeting our owner to discuss everything.”
