Rayo Vallecano claimed a dramatic 1-0 victory over Strasbourg in the UEFA Europa Conference League final at Stade de la Meinau, with Alemão's first-half strike proving decisive despite a late penalty miss.
Rayo Vallecano arrived in Strasbourg seeking their first European trophy. The Spanish side had navigated a challenging path through the competition. Strasbourg hosted the final, hoping to claim continental glory on home soil.
Vallecano started brightly and created early chances. The visitors dominated possession and territorial play from kickoff. Strasbourg struggled to find rhythm in the opening stages.
In the 42nd minute, Alemão broke the deadlock. The forward received possession and struck a clinical finish past Mike Penders. Vallecano's pressure finally yielded reward just before the interval.
Penders had kept Strasbourg in the contest with several important saves. The goalkeeper made seven stops across the 90 minutes. His performance proved crucial in limiting Vallecano's advantage.
Strasbourg needed to respond after the restart. The home side adjusted their approach and created more attacking opportunities. However, they could not find the equalizer despite increased pressure.
Vallecano defended resolutely throughout the second half. Augusto Batalla and Florian Lejeune marshaled the back line effectively. The Spanish outfit absorbed Strasbourg's attacks with discipline.
Tension mounted as the final whistle approached. Strasbourg pressed forward desperately seeking a breakthrough. The hosts earned a late penalty in the 94th minute.
J. Enciso stepped up to take the spot kick. However, the striker's effort went wide of the target. The miss proved fatal to Strasbourg's hopes of forcing extra time.
Vallecano's statistics told the story of their dominance. They recorded 22 total shots compared to Strasbourg's 11. The visitors also boasted superior expected goals at 1.63 versus 1.59.
Possession was nearly even at 51-49 percent. Vallecano completed 374 passes with 84 percent accuracy. Strasbourg managed 362 accurate passes from 429 total attempts.
Rayo Vallecano lifted the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy. The Madrid club claimed their maiden European title. Strasbourg's dream of European glory ended in heartbreak at home.
