The decisive moment came in the 42nd minute through the Brazilian striker Alemao. After a period of sustained pressure from the visitors, Florian Lejeune connected with a cushioned right-foot volley that forced a magnificent save from Strasbourg goalkeeper Mike Penders. However, the rebound fell perfectly for Alemao, who reacted quickest to tuck the ball home and double Rayo's lead in the tie.
Inigo Perez’s men were dominant for much of the evening, registering 19 shots to Strasbourg’s three. The home side struggled to find any rhythm against a compact Rayo defense, with key creative outlets like Valentin Barco and Julio Enciso finding little room to operate. Strasbourg’s frustration was compounded in second-half stoppage time when they were awarded a penalty for a handball by Oscar Valentin. Julio Enciso stepped up to take the spot-kick, but Augusto Batalla produced a dramatic save to ensure a clean sheet and safe passage for the Spanish side.
This victory is a landmark achievement for Rayo Vallecano, a club from the working-class neighborhood of Vallecas. Their only previous venture deep into European competition was a quarter-final appearance in the 2000-01 UEFA Cup. By reaching this final, Rayo have also played a crucial role in the UEFA coefficient race, mathematically securing a fifth Champions League spot for La Liga next season by ending German hopes of catching Spain in the rankings.
Rayo Vallecano will now travel to the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig on May 27, 2026, for the showpiece final. They are set to face English Premier League side Crystal Palace, who defeated Shakhtar Donetsk in the other semi-final. While they may enter the match as underdogs, the tactical masterclass displayed in France suggests that the Franjirrojos are more than capable of lifting their first-ever major continental trophy.