In what was another astonishing night in Crystal Palace’s history, the Eagles were crowned Europa Conference League champions on Wednesday as they clinched a gritty 1-0 victory against Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano.
Just months removed from trying to force his way out of the club, it was Jean-Philippe Mateta who wrote himself into Palace folklore as the French striker tapped home just minutes after the half-time break.
Now remarkably securing a third major honour in the space of not even three years, Oliver Glasner’s historic tenure was certainly signed off with a fairytale ending in Germany.
On a night when Crystal Palace got their hands on a maiden piece of European silverware, we have taken a look at the main talking points from Leipzig.
Glasner cements himself as the best in Palace’s history
While Glasner might have shockingly announced way back in January that he would be leaving Selhurst Park at the end of the season, there was already a strong argument to be made as to whether the Austrian tactician is Palace’s greatest ever boss?
Spearheading Palace to a maiden FA Cup crown last year following an iconic afternoon at Wembley, the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager only further stacked his claim on Wednesday night.
Now almost universally regarded as the most influential figure to ever grace their dugout, Glasner has enjoyed a famous two-and-a-half-year spell in south London and remarkably leaves Selhurst Park with three major honours to his name.
Adding a first piece of European silverware to both their FA Cup and Community Shield crowns, it is almost impossible to see how life goes on in south London without their historic boss.
Mateta writes another chapter in his Palace story
Making it abundantly clear back in January that he wanted to complete a move away from Selhurst Park, Mateta found himself at the heart of what had become an incredibly messy divorce.
However, despite being booed by the whole of south London on his return from a knee injury after watching a potential move to AC Milan fall apart in the dying moments, it has been a remarkable turnaround for the ex-Mainz striker.
Officially included in France’s World Cup squad prior to Wednesday’s showpiece event, Mateta is now on his way to North America as a Europa Conference League champion.
Writing himself into Palace folklore and underlining his status as a modern era icon in south London, it almost feels like Wednesday’s winner might have officially drawn a line under his attempted January escape.
Vallecano fall at the final hurdle
Although Rayo Vallecano might have suffered the most public of heartbreak on Wednesday night, the Little Thunderbolts should take a string of positives from an historic showdown in Leipzig.
In what has been their first ever European adventure of any kind, the small club from Madrid have firmly underlined their status as one of Europe’s ultimate surprise packages.
Embarking on what has been nothing short of an iconic fairytale over the past couple of years, Inigo Perez’s record-breaking squad have consistently proven that they can mix it with any of Europe’s elite.
Handed a standing ovation from their travelling support on Wednesday night, Perez’s squad will certainly return to the Spanish capital as heroes in their own right.
Match Report
Crystal Palace: Henderson, Canvot, Lacroix, Riad, Munoz, Mitchell, Kamada, Wharton, Sarr, Pino, Mateta
Subs: Guessand, Strand Larsen
Rayo Vallecano: Batalla, Raitu, Lejeune, Ciss, Chavarria, Lopez, Valentin, de Frutos, Palazon, Garcia, Alemao
Subs: Diaz, Mendy, Espino, Sergio Camello, Akhomach
Goals: Mateta (51’)
Yellow Cards: Crystal Palace: Wharton, Riad, Pino – Rayo Vallecano: Palazon, Lopez, Ciss, Mendy, Espino
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Maurizio Mariani