Crystal Palace ease past Shakhtar to set up Rayo Vallecano Conference League final

As the song that has accompanied them on their maiden European adventure promised all along, Crystal Palace are on their way to Leipzig. Sixteen years after rescuing the club he supported as a child from administration, Steve Parish watched on from the stands with pride as Oliver Glasner’s side held off a spirited challenge from Shakhtar Donestsk to book a showdown with Rayo Vallecano in eastern Germany on 27 May.

The Austrian manager may be set to leave Palace after what will be the 60th game of a marathon season but whatever happens after this, he will always have a special place in the club’s history. Reports from Spain in the hours before kick-off suggested that Andoni Iraola – Palace’s preferred candidate to succeed Glasner – could yet be persuaded to take over at Selhurst Park next season despite having plenty of other suitors.