Alemão scored again as Rayo Vallecano triumphed over Strasbourg in a dramatic semi-final tie.
2025/2026 UEFA Europa Conference League
0-1
Match Report:
Rayo Vallecano secured their most famous European night with a dominant display in Strasbourg, booking their ticket to Leipzig and a first UEFA final in their 102-year history.
Taking a one-goal lead from the first leg in Madrid last week, the Spanish outfit were on the front foot from the outset in France and came close to opening the scoring in the eighth minute.
Alemão, whose header made the difference in the first leg, got on the end of a clipped cross but was denied by Mike Penders, who dived to his left at full stretch.
Penders was called upon a handful of times in the first half, with Rayo moving the ball at pace and with precision, while their high press negated Strasbourg’s desire to play out from the back.
It twice almost led to goals early in the first half, first when Guéla Doué was dispossessed close to goal in the 10th minute, only for Jorge de Frutos to blaze over, and again 18 minutes later when Unai López’s effort from distance was saved by Penders.
For all their first-half dominance, Rayo had to wait until stoppage time to finally find the net, with Alemão striking from a Penders parry.
Missing their talismanic striker Emmanuel Emegha through injury, Strasbourg were limited to only one attempt on goal in the first 45 minutes, compared to 15 for Rayo. The home side started brightly in the second half but could not capitalise.
Their first sight of goal came in the 60th minute, when Julio Enciso’s cross dropped to Samir El Mourabet, who could not keep his effort on target.
Enciso was involved again 13 minutes later, slipping a brilliant ball into the box for Valentin Barco, but Pep Chavarría’s challenge was timed to perfection, and the shot was deflected behind.
The visitors came close to putting the result to bed when, first, Alfonso Espino and moments later Sergio Camello were denied by Penders, and they survived a huge scare in the 94th minute when the ball struck captain Oscar Valentín’s arm in the area, seeing Enciso stepping up to take the penalty.
The Paraguayan international went to the right of Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla, who guessed correctly to push it into the path of Ismaël Doukouré, before getting up in a flash to pull off a double save of his own, ensuring Rayo remain the last Spanish team standing in European competition this season, and take a major step closer to Conference League glory.
Match Events
1' Match Event for Strasbourg vs Vallecano
25' Highlight from Strasbourg vs Vallecano
29' Match Event for Strasbourg vs Vallecano
42' GOAL! Strasbourg 0-1 Vallecano (Alemão)
56' Highlight from Strasbourg vs Vallecano
60' Highlight from Strasbourg vs Vallecano
68' Highlight from Strasbourg vs Vallecano
Line-ups
Strasbourg XI: Chilwell, Andrew Omobamidele, Julio Enciso, Guéla Doué, Ismaël Doukouré, Valentín Barco, Guemissongui Ouattara, Diego Moreira, Martial Godo, Mike Penders, Samir El Mourabet
Subs: K. Johnsson, Sebastian Nanasi, Maxi Oyedele, Rafael Luís, Lucas Høgsberg, Samuel Amo-Ameyaw, Mathis Amougou, Gessime Yassine, Ghianny Kodia, Gabriel Kerckaert, Yoann Becker, Jean-Baptiste Bosey
Vallecano XI: Lejeune, Unai López, Augusto Batalla, Alfonso Espino, Óscar Valentín, Isi Palazón, Jorge de Frutos, Pathé Ciss, Andrei Rațiu, Alemão, Pep Chavarría
Subs: Óscar Trejo, Balliu, Álvaro García, Gumbau, Pedro Díaz, Dani Cárdenas, Sergio Camello, Nobel Mendy, Adrián Molina