The Eagles came into the competition as favourites after being demoted from the Europa League last summer.
They clinched the first major honour in club history by winning the FA Cup last season, and just over a year on can establish themselves as European champions for the first time.
The Eagles were beaten 2-1 by Arsenal in their final match of the domestic campaign, but will be confident of victory as they face Rayo Vallecano, who finished eighth in La Liga, missing out on qualification for this competition by a single point, and beat Chelsea’s sister club Strasbourg in the quarter-finals of…
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