Rayo Vallecano has qualified for its first European final in the Conference League after beating Strasbourg in the semi-final return leg. The team of Íñigo Pérez won with a single goal from Alemao, who has been a hero in the tie with two goals in two games. Rayo Vallecano will play against Crystal Palace in Leipzig on May 27, in a match that promises to be extremely tough. The result is not only a great news for Rayo Vallecano, but for all Spanish football, as Spain ensures a fifth place in the 2026/2027 Champions League. The UEFA, after the change of format of the competition, reserves two extra places for the countries with the best results in international competitions. The fifth-placed team in LaLiga will take the honor, the sixth will accompany Real Sociedad in the Europa League and the next in the table will go to the Conference. The match began with a clear dominance of the last Spanish representative in Europe. Alemao warned after just seven minutes, but Penders pulled off a spectacular hand to avoid an early disaster. Also tried their luck Lejeune and Chavarría with two optimistic attempts that did not find the local goal. With the control of the football clearly in the red boots, Isi Palazón wanted to score a memorable goal with a spectacular cannon from the front that went licking the wood. Very superior the team of Íñigo Pérez. The Madrid team continued to insist, trying their luck through Pathé Ciss, at half-time, and Jorge de Frutos, soon after a deflection resulting from a lateral center, but both occasions remained in a fright for a completely overwhelmed Strasbourg. As much as they tried, the lata had to open up at some point, and it did so in one of the best, on the edge of the break. The 'Pacha' Espino got rid of his par and rode down the right flank, from where he hung a calm center to the boots of Lejeune, incorporated into the attack. He rejected the goalkeeper in the first instance, but the ball landed gently on the feet of Alemao, who only had to push to emulate his feat of the first leg and become a hero. In the second half, the French gave a step forward, forced by the imminence of their debacle. Nonetheless, it was Jorge de Frutos who enjoyed a great opportunity just after returning from the locker room, although he was unlucky in defining. Strasbourg could not get close to the Rayo Vallecano's domains with great danger, but in the time of extra time, already completely collapsed the Gauls, the referee pointed the penalty point for a hand, resulting from a rebound, of the captain Óscar Valentín. The Paraguayan Julio Enciso took responsibility, took a run-up, shot strong and crossed... and Augusto Batalla rejected not only the shot, but an opportunity resulting from the clearance. Without time to spare, Rayo Vallecano only had to celebrate on the grass the first qualification for a European final in its history, in which the rival will be extremely tough: Crystal Palace.