Crystal Palace defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 on the night to claim a 5-2 aggregate win and book their place in the Conference League final.
Crystal Palace, who initially fought hard to avoid participation, now stand just one match away from securing their first European trophy and adding another chapter to their club legacy. At Selhurst Park, the London side overcame Ukrainian powerhouse Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 in the second leg of their semi-final clash, completing a 5-2 aggregate victory. This triumph follows their domestic successes in 2025, including victories in the FA Cup and Community Shield at Wembley. The club's unexpected European adventure began in a Swiss courtroom, where they unsuccessfully contested their relegation from the Europa League to the Conference League due to multi-club ownership regulations.
Oliver Glasner, who will depart the club at the end of the season after joining in February 2024, is on the cusp of winning his third trophy in under two years. After the match, he shared his astonishment at the club's achievements, stating: 'I spoke to the chairman before the match, he always comes into my office. I said, "do you ever think we would be playing in the semi-final of a European competition?" He said "no". I said, "when we talked for the first time three years ago, I didn't think about it". This is what you achieve if you work hard and stick together in tough moments - and we have had a few. When you stick together in difficult moments, you get the reward.'
The pulsating energy at Selhurst Park transformed the ground into a cauldron of noise and celebration as Palace secured their final spot. While Shakhtar supporters created a vibrant backdrop in one end, the home crowd amplified the intensity with chants and applause, culminating in a thunderous rendition of 'Glad All Over' accompanied by pyrotechnics. Glasner praised the spectacle, noting: 'It was a fantastic atmosphere and a great night at Selhurst. It's a huge achievement and great credit to the players, everybody could see how good Shakhtar are.' Ismaila Sarr also delivered a standout performance, scoring his ninth goal of the tournament to become the competition's top scorer.
Dean Henderson, the team's goalkeeper and captain, captured the club's emotions perfectly after the victory. 'It's incredible for the football club. You see the connection between the players and the supporters, it's fantastic. It's unbelievable,' he exclaimed. He continued: 'When you come in from 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 make the final. We've got to deliver something special. We need to get back what we deserve as well [Europa League qualification].'
Since their founding in 1905, Crystal Palace had rarely tasted silverware, with their only notable triumph coming in 1991 when Ian Wright inspired a 4-1 Wembley win over Everton in the Zenith Data Systems Cup. The last 12 months, however, have rewritten the club's history books. Eberechi Eze's goal handed them a historic 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final, followed by a penalty shootout triumph over Liverpool in the Community Shield. Their FA Cup success should have secured Europa League football, but UEFA's decision to penalize the club for multi-club ownership breaches altered their path. Lyon, finishing higher domestically, claimed the Europa League spot, demoting Palace to the Conference League.
Despite an eight-hour appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, Palace's fight to retain their Europa League place ended in defeat. Yet, from that setback emerged a remarkable European campaign that saw them travel across Norway, Poland, France, the Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Italy, and back to Poland before arriving in Germany for the final. Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest's elimination in the Europa League following a 4-0 loss to Aston Villa added a poetic twist to Palace's journey. The final in Leipzig against Rayo Vallecano offers Glasner a fitting farewell after his contract was confirmed to expire this summer.
Though Glasner had consistently stated he would not continue beyond this season, the club's supporters made their feelings clear with chants and tributes. 'Maybe because I'm leaving some people have come up to me and are saying this is something really special,' he remarked. 'Some people are saying, "thank you for these exciting two years we've had together". What these players have done for Crystal Palace is incredible, winning the FA Cup, the Community Shield and now this. A few years ago it would've been so far away. Now it is close to grab it and you can write history again and give the fans moments that will stay with them forever.'
Palace's European adventure unfolded amid a rollercoaster campaign. After their FA Cup victory, key players like Eze left for Arsenal while captain Marc Guehi nearly joined Liverpool, with a deal collapsing on deadline day due to replacement issues. The small squad struggled under the weight of 55 matches in 2025-26, enduring a 12-game winless streak from December. January brought further turmoil, including a humiliating 2-1 FA Cup exit to sixth-tier Macclesfield and the announcement of Guehi's transfer to Manchester City. Glasner publicly expressed frustration, stating his players felt 'being abandoned completely', yet he remained in charge and steered the team toward another potential trophy.
Glasner emphasized the players' hunger for more glory, urging them to focus on the club's future rather than his impending departure. 'We want to end the season in the perfect way - and we can do it,' he insisted. 'I said to the players, "don't do anything for me, do it for yourselves, for the club, for the fans". Winning the Conference League means European football again next season for Crystal Palace. They have had a taste, with the FA Cup and Community Shield, and they want honey again. They will not be happy with just avocado. They want something sweeter.'