Europa League Preview: Crystal Palace vs. Rayo Vallecano

LONDON (Interstat) — Crystal Palace hosts Rayo Vallecano in a Europa League matchup Wednesday, May 27, at Selhurst Park, with both sides aiming to build on recent momentum.

Palace enters the fixture riding a four-match winning streak in all competitions, most recently a 2-1 home victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on May 7. That result followed a 3-1 win at Shakhtar on April 30, part of a run that includes three consecutive shutout victories in European play. The Eagles have not lost since a 2-1 defeat at RC Strasbourg Alsace on Nov. 27, 2025, going 7-1-1 in their last nine outings. Their Europa League campaign has been marked by strong defensive performances, with five clean sheets in their past six matches.

Rayo Vallecano arrives on a three-match unbeaten streak, most recently a 2-1 victory at Deportivo Alaves on Saturday, May 23. The Spanish side is 5-2-1 in its last eight games, with its only loss a 3-0 defeat at Mallorca on April 12. The club’s Europa League form has been similarly steady, winning five of its previous six matches, including a 1-0 win at RC Strasbourg Alsace on May 7. Rayo’s attack has been efficient, scoring two goals in three of their last four victories, while the defense has surrendered multiple goals only once in that span.

Wednesday’s match is the first competitive meeting between the two clubs. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 2-1 victory for Crystal Palace.

Crystal Palace will be without any key injuries reported, but manager Oliver Glasner may rotate his squad given the congested schedule. Midfielder Eberechi Eze has been central to Palace’s attack, while Jean-Philippe Mateta leads the scoring charts. Rayo Vallecano’s main threat comes from striker Raúl de Tomás, who has scored in three of his last four appearances.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time (19:00 GMT). The winner will gain an edge in the Europa League group stage standings.