Crystal Palace have officially guaranteed their Premier League status for another season, ending any lingering doubts about relegation. The focus now shifts entirely to their upcoming UEFA Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano on May 27.
Jorgen Strand Larsen and Ismaila Sarr celebrate after the latter’s first-half equalizer against Everton. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
This campaign has been remarkable for Crystal Palace, marked by the grind of a 60-match season across all competitions and their debut in European football. Yet the outcome remains familiar: safety in the Premier League for the 13th consecutive year. West Ham United’s defeat to Arsenal on Sunday mathematically confirmed Palace’s survival, easing any lingering tension.
The path to safety had seemed assured since a victory over Tottenham Hotspur in early March. However, with manager Oliver Glasner rotating his squad and points slipping away while rivals closed in, some fans grew anxious—especially those haunted by the club’s 1993 relegation with a then-record 49 points. That painful memory, along with a 45-point relegation in 1995, kept doubts alive even as Palace sat eight points above the drop zone with three games left. But now, those fears are gone.
Oliver Glasner pushes his players for more effort. (Warren Little/Getty Images)
With survival secured, Palace can fully concentrate on the Conference League final on May 27, where they face Rayo Vallecano. Winning would secure the club’s first European trophy and a spot in next season’s Europa League, making this an historic campaign.
To beat the Spanish side, Palace must address recurring issues—particularly their wastefulness in front of goal. Despite that problem resurfacing, they showed resilience in a 2-2 draw with Everton, a quality essential for the final. Manager Oliver Glasner, who criticized his team’s mental fatigue after a heavy defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, praised their spirit in the Everton match. “The difference is the Conference League job wasn’t done before the Bournemouth game,” he said. “The final feels far away, but we wanted to secure Premier League survival ourselves. We showed we can compete against any team with this mentality and commitment.”
Crystal Palace will play Premier League football again next season. (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Now free from league pressure, Glasner can rotate his squad without worry. Key players like Adam Wharton, Daichi Kamada, Maxence Lacroix, and Ismaila Sarr could be rested for Wednesday’s match against Manchester City or any of the remaining three league games, ensuring they are fresh for the final showdown.
