Rayo Vallecano celebrate banner night: ‘25 years later, Europe sees us again’

A Conference League place is a monumental achievement, made all the better by how out of place it all feelsRayo Vallecano’s fans rolled out the banner at 10.46pm on the last Saturday of the season and rolled it away again a minute later. There had been a sneak glimpse of the message they hoped to stretch across the one end of a ground that is actually an end and not just a wall at risk of falling down, but it wasn’t quite time for the big reveal. For now all they wanted was to pull 40 metres of fabric into place, huge white letters proudly painted on a red background, ready for when, if, it actually was. They certainly didn’t intend to tempt fate; it wasn’t done yet, history still not made and, God knows, if there is a place where anything can go wrong, where football and life isn’t always kind but is always lived, it is here.There was though a brief look before the banner was hidden again behind the back row – something about years, Europe and us – and they were close now. There were 10 minutes plus added time left and the side from the Independent People’s Republic of Vallekas, the last of the neighbourhood teams, not just in the barrio but of the barrio, were on the verge of qualifying for the Conference League. All they had to do was beat Real Mallorca and it turned out they wouldn’t even have to do that: they had taken 28 shots without scoring but it still didn’t matter because up in Vitoria, the team that could take the place from them hadn’t scored either, Osasuna losing 1-0 to Alavés. Continue reading...

Comments

Sport news

Antony sent Man Utd transfer message after Chelsea defeat in Conference League final

Metro

Joe Cole jokes 'I hope my wife's not watching this' as he struggles to find his son during Chelsea's Conference League celebrations

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Enzo Maresca blames over-celebrating Champions League qualification for Chelsea's slow start in Conference League final - before Blues bounced back to beat Real Betis

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Emotional Antony gives update on Man United future and explains why Real Betis fell apart in Conference League final against Chelsea

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Luke Littler responds to Nathan Aspinall's claim that darts star could retire in the next five years

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Enzo Maresca reveals bizarre reason why Reece James did not start the Conference League final - before the Chelsea captain came off the bench to inspire comeback win over Real Betis

about 1 hour ago

Dailymail

Cole Palmer's hilarious four-word reason for putting his player of the match award down his shorts leaves CBS host in stitches

about 1 hour ago

Chelsea make history as they become first team to win EVERY trophy in Europe after amazing Cole Palmer inspired comeback

The Sun

This small, insignificant memorial is a disgrace and an insult to the fans who lost their lives at Heysel, writes IAN HERBERT

about 3 hours ago

Dailymail

NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar takes aim at Trump's 'tyrannical administration' during Harvard speech

about 3 hours ago

Dailymail

Joe Cole heaps praise on 'genius' Cole Palmer after inspiring Chelsea's comeback against Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final

about 3 hours ago

Dailymail

Revealed: The incredible final streak brought to an end as Chelsea surge to Conference League victory

about 3 hours ago

Dailymail

Ex-NFL star Keyshawn Johnson 'sues agent for $1million' in bombshell filing

about 3 hours ago

Dailymail

Trent Alexander-Arnold pens emotional 15-word tribute to Liverpool fans as he bids farewell after 'perfect send-off' in title parade

about 3 hours ago

Dailymail

Robin Goodfellow's racing tips: Best bets for Thursday, May 29

about 3 hours ago

Dailymail

Tearful Antony is consoled by his former Man United team-mate Jadon Sancho as Real Betis capitulate against Chelsea in Conference League final

about 3 hours ago

Melissa Reddy breaks silence after Sky Sports exit - as she hits out at 'abuse' and reveals her next career move

Dailymail

Comments

Similar News

Rayo Vallecano back to winning ways at Getafe's expense in Madrid derby

Sport news

Antony sent Man Utd transfer message after Chelsea defeat in Conference League final

Why Liverpool pulled out of race to sign Matheus Cunha ahead of Manchester United

McLaurin, Lattimore, Tunsil skip Commanders' first organized team activities

Pacers one win from= NBA Finals, but Knicks talking playoff comeback

Jayden Daniels has bulked up, plans to shoulder more as he tackles first offseason practices

Nicklaus on defending Memorial champ Scheffler: 'He plays a lot like I did'

Magic won’t get the Knicks out of this hole — but here’s what absolutely can

2025 French Open Day 5 picks, odds: Best bets for Jaume Munar-Arthur Fils, Jack Draper-Gael Monfils

Phillies retaliating would be ‘right thing to do’ after Braves plunked Bryce Harper: Former GM

Ben Stiller was taken aback by Pat McAfee’s brutal Knicks trolling: ‘Seems a little cartoonish’

Aaron Glenn bringing key area of change — beyond QB — to Jets’ extreme roster makeover

Tigers grounds crew member gets injured on field — then flips off the camera

Enzo Maresca says Conference League victory a ‘starting point’ for Chelsea

Joe Cole hails 'absolute genius' Cole Palmer with Lionel Messi comparison

Marcus Rashford holds transfer talks in bid to leave Man Utd for dream club

Matthew Stafford's wife Kelly unveils plastic surgery 'makeover' after four kids and ten years of marriage

Raging ESPN star takes aim at Stephen A Smith's massive $100m contract amid 'First Take' fury

Joe Cole jokes 'I hope my wife's not watching this' as he struggles to find his son during Chelsea's Conference League celebrations

Enzo Maresca blames over-celebrating Champions League qualification for Chelsea's slow start in Conference League final - before Blues bounced back to beat Real Betis

Emotional Antony gives update on Man United future and explains why Real Betis fell apart in Conference League final against Chelsea

Luke Littler responds to Nathan Aspinall's claim that darts star could retire in the next five years

Enzo Maresca reveals bizarre reason why Reece James did not start the Conference League final - before the Chelsea captain came off the bench to inspire comeback win over Real Betis

Cole Palmer's hilarious four-word reason for putting his player of the match award down his shorts leaves CBS host in stitches

Chelsea make history as they become first team to win EVERY trophy in Europe after amazing Cole Palmer inspired comeback

Chelsea star ‘devastated’ by Enzo Maresca decision in Conference League final win

Liam Delap agrees to join new club after Man Utd and Chelsea offers

Enzo Maresca names surprise Chelsea star as ‘one of his favourite players’

Wrestler becomes first Japanese man since 2017 to reach sumo's highest rank

It’s now or never for Giants’ band of underachievers

Luke Littler ‘not even thinking about retirement at the minute’ after rumours

‘Absolute genius’ Cole Palmer hailed for inspiring Chelsea’s Conference League triumph

Craig Bellamy relaxed over Man Utd youngster Gabriele Biancheri’s Wales future

Chelsea: Enzo Maresca explains why Reece James did not start in Conference League final win over Real Betis

Chelsea: Joe Cole predicts 'really good era' after Conference League final win completes European set

'I am guilty': Ruben Amorim reacts as Manchester United booed off after shock defeat to ASEAN All-Stars

Manchester United miss out on major transfer 'windfall' as Jadon Sancho and Antony embrace after Chelsea win

Chelsea: Enzo Maresca insists Cole Palmer struggles will make him 'better player' after starring final display

Durbin's sacrifice fly gives the Brewers a 6-5 walk-off win over the Red Sox

Oklahoma will face hard-throwing Karlyn Pickens in quest for 5th straight Women's CWS title

Dave King urges Rangers takeover crew to reconsider Steven Gerrard as 'obvious' next manager choice

Fuming Ruben Amorim blasts Man Utd 'chokers' after latest humiliation

Cole Palmer steps up in Chelsea's hour of need and decides Conference League final

Enzo Maresca explains Conference League final call which left Chelsea star 'devastated'

Man Utd flop Antony inconsolable after Real Betis beaten by Chelsea in Conference League final

This small, insignificant memorial is a disgrace and an insult to the fans who lost their lives at Heysel, writes IAN HERBERT

NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar takes aim at Trump's 'tyrannical administration' during Harvard speech

Joe Cole heaps praise on 'genius' Cole Palmer after inspiring Chelsea's comeback against Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final

Revealed: The incredible final streak brought to an end as Chelsea surge to Conference League victory

Ex-NFL star Keyshawn Johnson 'sues agent for $1million' in bombshell filing

Trent Alexander-Arnold pens emotional 15-word tribute to Liverpool fans as he bids farewell after 'perfect send-off' in title parade

Robin Goodfellow's racing tips: Best bets for Thursday, May 29

Tearful Antony is consoled by his former Man United team-mate Jadon Sancho as Real Betis capitulate against Chelsea in Conference League final

Melissa Reddy breaks silence after Sky Sports exit - as she hits out at 'abuse' and reveals her next career move

Chelsea ratings: Cole Palmer single-handedly turns final around as Malo Gusto is hauled off after first half horror show

England ace Ella Morris left ‘devastated’ by knee injury sustained five weeks before Women’s Euros

Liverpool in race against time to complete £126m Florian Wirtz transfer as Bayer Levekusen double-deal targeted

Mykhailo Mudryk left out of Chelsea trophy celebrations despite travelling to Poland in his club kit to collect a medal

Reece James overheard by TNT Sports presenter rollocking Chelsea team-mates at half-time of Conference League final

Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh to train with Michael Phelps' coach. What we know about the move

Joe Cole sends message to Chelsea over Jadon Sancho transfer from Man Utd