Episode Episode 10 : Into Europe The Season Crystal Palace Changed Forever (August 2025 – May 2026)

Crystal Palace began the 2025–26 season as FA Cup holders and ended it as European champions. In between: a Europa League demotion on ownership grounds, Eberechi Eze's departure to Arsenal on the morning of the club's first ever European fixture, a Community Shield won on penalties against Liverpool, and Jean-Philippe Mateta heading Crystal Palace's first ever European goal against Fredrikstad FK at a packed and emotional Selhurst Park. What followed was a Conference League campaign that took Palace to Lublin, Dublin, Strasbourg and beyond — six countries in six matchdays — alongside a Premier League season that peaked at fourth before a nine-game winless run, an FA Cup exit to non-league Macclesfield, and the sale of captain Marc Guéhi to Manchester City. The recovery came in February. The knockout rounds came in March: AEK Larnaca beaten in extra time in Cyprus, Fiorentina swept aside three-nil at Selhurst, Shakhtar Donetsk overcome in a Selhurst semi-final that the crowd will not forget. And then Leipzig. The 27th of May 2026. Adam Wharton's shot spilled, Mateta's rebound, one-nil, the Conference League trophy lifted by Oliver Glasner in his final game as manager. Three major trophies in thirteen months for a club that had won nothing in a hundred and twenty years. This episode covers the full season — the chaos, the exits, the European nights, the final — and closes with a farewell to Glasner and a look ahead to Pierre Sage and the UEFA Europa League. Player of the Season: Jean-Philippe Mateta — scorer of the first and last European goals of the campaign. Research Sources 2025–26 Crystal Palace F.C. season — Wikipedia and cpfc.co.uk match reports: full season including knockout rounds and Conference League final. 2026 UEFA Conference League final — Wikipedia: Crystal Palace 1-0 Rayo Vallecano, Red Bull Arena Leipzig, 27 May 2026. Mateta goal 51st minute (rebound from Wharton's spilled shot). Palace won 1-0, first club to win in debut continental campaign since 1979. Qualified for 2026-27 UEFA Europa League. Crystal Palace in European football — Wikipedia: Full knockout round results: R16 AEK Larnaca (0-0 h, 2-1 aet a, agg 2-1; Sarr 13', 99'; Saborit 63', 73'); QF Fiorentina (3-0 h, 1-2 a, agg 4-2; Mateta scored first leg); SF Shakhtar Donetsk (1-0 a first leg, 3-1 h second leg, agg 5-2). 2025-26 UEFA Conference League — Wikipedia: Ismaïla Sarr top scorer with 9 goals, named player of the tournament. Palace finished 10th in league phase. Rayo Vallecano runners-up (first European final). Glasner farewell confirmed post-match. Sky Sports / TNT Sports / cpfc.co.uk match reports: AEK Larnaca second leg detail — Benítez replaced ill Henderson; Sarr first goal from Wharton through-ball; Saborit equalisers; Sarr 99th minute winner. Fiorentina QF: Mateta's first goal since New Year's Day; Wharton and Lacroix injured first half second leg; Sarr scored in second leg. SI.com and Bleacher Report on final: first half chances limited; Mitchell header wide just before HT; no shot on target for either team in first 30 minutes; Wharton drive spilled by Rayo GK; Mateta rebound 51 min; Palace defended magnificently in second half. Glasner confirmed leaving; confirmed friction with board following unnamed matters. Parish: "Sometimes the good guys win." CPFC.co.uk Road to Leipzig page: Mateta's GoPro celebrations video (29 May 2026). Glasner final press conference (29 May 2026). Trophy lift footage.