Rayo Vallecano secured a historic place in the Conference League final after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Strasbourg in the semifinal second leg. The win, played at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, sends the Spanish side to the final with a 2-0 aggregate score (first leg 1-0). Over 11,500 Rayo fans are expected to travel for the final, marking the club’s largest ever away following and a chance to turn the stadium red.
In the aftermath, the Rayo dressing room was overflowing with emotion. “The locker room is freaking out. We are living a dream,” said one player, reflecting the collective joy. “It’s crazy to play a European final with Rayo. The hunger got us through this tie,” added another, highlighting the team’s commitment. Special praise was reserved for teammate Isi: “I can only tell Isi not to leave – we enjoy him so much. He came from the lower divisions, played with me in Segunda, and now we deserve this.” The message to the fans was clear: “See you in Leipzig. You are unique, and hopefully we bring the cup back to Vallecas.”
Captain Trejo was also singled out for his leadership. “It doesn’t make sense to reach a final without someone like him. He is fundamental, and this run is impossible without him. He deserves it more than anyone,” a team member remarked. The players also reflected on their journey: “After five years since promotion, we are now fighting for a European final. Today it went our way, and we deserved it. Now only one match remains, and we have to win it.”
Manager Iñigo Pérez called the performance the best since he took charge. “It was the best match we have played since I have the fortune of coaching Rayo. When you create chances and the goal doesn’t come, your brain connects with situations where you get penalized. Justice was done today,” he said. On the defensive effort, he added: “The defensive work was incredible. We were superior, especially in the first half. The goal came at a good moment and gave us calm.”
Pérez also touched on the penalty decision: “It was a moment where, if they had found the goal, we would have had to hold off a team with their crowd for four minutes.” Regarding the final, he emphasized: “You can’t understand someone reaching a final without having a final. We are a beautiful team, with a large social base, and we want to win it.”
