Samwise European Soccer Newsletter
Thursday, May 28, 2026
Crystal Palace Win the Conference League With Mateta’s Second-Half Strike Against Rayo Vallecano
Crystal Palace claimed the UEFA Europa Conference League title on Wednesday, defeating Spain’s Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the final at Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena. Jean-Philippe Mateta forced in a rebound in the 51st minute, scoring the most significant goal in the English club’s history. Adam Wharton was named Player of the Match. The victory is Crystal Palace’s first European trophy, completing a remarkable spell under departing manager Oliver Glasner that also included the 2025 FA Cup and the Community Shield. The win secures automatic entry into the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League for the Eagles, ensuring European football at Selhurst Park next season.
Sources: beIN Sports, UEFA.com
Glasner Leaves Crystal Palace With Three Trophies and a Place in the Club’s History
Oliver Glasner departed Crystal Palace after Wednesday’s Conference League triumph, having announced in January that he would leave at the end of the season. In less than two and a half years, the Austrian guided Palace to three trophies: the FA Cup in 2025, the Community Shield and now the Conference League. Glasner told reporters he had no future plans beyond recovering from “a hangover”, while describing the club’s fanbase as having fully deserved the European glory. The 51-year-old leaves Selhurst Park as the most decorated manager in Crystal Palace’s history, having transformed a mid-table Premier League club into a serial trophy winner.
Sources: beIN Sports, Sky Sports
Arteta Named Premier League Manager of the Season as Arsenal’s Title Triumph Is Recognised
Mikel Arteta was named the 2025/26 Premier League Manager of the Season on Wednesday, becoming only the second Arsenal boss to claim the award after Arsène Wenger, who won it following the club’s unbeaten 2003/04 campaign. Arteta guided Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years, finishing with 85 points, a division-best 19 clean sheets and the fewest goals conceded in the Premier League. He saw off competition from Keith Andrews, Michael Carrick, Andoni Iraola, Régis Le Bris and Pep Guardiola for the honour. Arsenal now head into Saturday’s Champions League final in Budapest against Paris Saint-Germain, where victory would complete a historic domestic and European double.
Sources: beIN Sports, Yahoo Sports
PSG and Arsenal Meet in Budapest on Saturday in a Final Between Europe’s Two Domestic Champions
Paris Saint-Germain face Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League final at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest on Saturday at 18:00 CET. PSG, the defending champions, aim to become the first club to retain the trophy since Real Madrid in 2018. Arsenal, Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years, return to the European final for the first time since losing to Barcelona in 2006. The Gunners are the only unbeaten side in this season’s competition, winning 11 and drawing three of their 14 matches. PSG reached the final via the play-off route, sweeping aside Chelsea 8-2 and Liverpool 4-0 before defeating Bayern Munich 6-5 on aggregate.
Dembélé and Hakimi Return to Full PSG Training Ahead of Saturday’s Champions League Final
Paris Saint-Germain received significant fitness news ahead of Saturday’s Champions League final when both Ousmane Dembélé and Achraf Hakimi returned to full group training on Tuesday. Dembélé had been managing a calf problem after being substituted in PSG’s Ligue 1 match against Paris FC on May 17, while Hakimi was sidelined with a right thigh injury sustained during the semi-final against Bayern Munich. Dembélé scored 19 goals and contributed 11 assists across 39 appearances in all competitions this season. Both players are now expected to feature in manager Luis Enrique’s starting line-up for Saturday’s showdown with Arsenal at the Puskás Aréna.
Sources: ArsenalNews, OneFootball
Budapest Gears Up for Its First Champions League Final as 200,000 Visitors Are Expected
Budapest is preparing to host its first UEFA Champions League final on Saturday when PSG face Arsenal at the 67,000-capacity Puskás Aréna. An estimated 200,000 visitors are expected to descend on the Hungarian capital for the occasion, with accommodation and flight bookings reaching approximately 250 per cent of normal seasonal levels. The city’s four-day fan festival at Heroes’ Square is largely in place, broadcast vans have arrived at the stadium, and top-category hotels sold out weeks ago. Saturday’s match marks the first time Hungary has staged the competition’s showpiece, making it one of the largest sporting events in Budapest’s recent history.
Sources: Euronews
Opta: Arsenal Have Played More Minutes Than Any Rival, While PSG Arrive in Budapest Fresher
Analysis from Opta reveals a stark contrast in squad freshness between Saturday’s Champions League finalists. Arsenal have played more matches than any other club across Europe’s top five leagues in 2025/26, with key players each logging more than 4,000 minutes across all competitions after deep runs in both the FA Cup and EFL Cup. PSG, by contrast, rotated heavily in Ligue 1, with manager Luis Enrique fielding just two Champions League final starters in PSG’s opening domestic fixture of the season. Only one PSG player, Warren Zaïre-Emery, exceeded the 4,000-minute threshold, leaving the Parisians considerably fresher heading into the Budapest final.
Sources: Opta Analyst
Season Wrap
Premier League Final Table (Top 6)
1. Arsenal — 85 pts (38P)
2. Man City — 78 pts (38P)
3. Man United — 71 pts (38P)
4. Aston Villa — 65 pts (38P)
5. Liverpool — 60 pts (38P)
6. Bournemouth — 57 pts (38P)
La Liga Final Table (Top 6)
1. Barcelona — 94 pts (38P)
2. Real Madrid — 86 pts (38P)
3. Villarreal — 72 pts (38P)
4. Atlético Madrid — 69 pts (38P)
5. Real Betis — 60 pts (38P)
6. Celta Vigo — 51 pts (38P)
UEFA Club Finals 2025/26
Champions League — Final
PSG vs Arsenal — Sat 30 May, Budapest
Europa League — Final (Completed)
Aston Villa 3–0 Freiburg
Istanbul, 20 May 2026
Conference League — Final (Completed)
Crystal Palace 1–0 Rayo Vallecano
Leipzig, 27 May 2026
Serie A Final (Top 3)
1. Inter Milan — 87 pts
2. Napoli — 76 pts
3. Roma — 73 pts
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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