UEFA Conference League Final: Real Betis vs Chelsea

Chelsea takes face Real Betis, a Spanish powerhouse, in the Conference League final on Wednesday night in Wroclaw in an attempt to become the first team to win all four major UEFA club tournaments

(Football news) Enzo Maresca’s men made light work of Swedish outfit Djurgardens IF in the semi-finals to punch an obligatory ticket to the showpiece, while Betis denied Fiorentina another shot at glory.

A Conference League trophy is nice, a place in the Champions League is even nicer, and Chelsea could end a transitional 2024-25 campaign with both under their belts thanks to their successful feats at the City Ground on the last day of the Premier League season.

Headlining gameweek 38 against Nottingham Forest – one of four other teams also fighting for three remaining Champions League places – Chelsea reserved their seat at Europe’s top table at the expense of the Tricky Trees thanks to a second-half Levi Colwill finish.

The Blues’ 1-0 beating of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side triggered the customary celebrations from Maresca’s men, who knew that victory by any scoreline would suffice regardless of what happened elsewhere, and a fourth-placed ranking in the Premier League table is something for the manager to shout about.

Chelsea’s successful Champions League qualification mission also means that there is less riding on the result of Wednesday’s showpiece, where the winner would ordinarily qualify for next season’s Europa League, but even though their spot in Europe is not on the line, history is.

Already boasting Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup trophies, the Blues can become the first side to ever win all four UEFA club tournaments in what will be their 13th European final; they have won eight of the previous 12.

Seen as the heavy favourites to clinch the Conference League at the start of the term, Chelsea have lived up to expectations barring two blemishes against Servette and Legia Warsaw, although they have not faced a test of this calibre in the third-tier competition.

Chelsea’s history in continental finals could hardly be richer, but Real Betis will be fighting for a European trophy for the very first time on Wednesday, albeit under a manager who knows a thing or two about lifting cups aloft.

Former Premier League winner Manuel Pellegrini has guided Los Verdiblancos to the 2024-25 final through the process of rejuvenation, having overseen the renaissances of Isco and Antony over the past several months, and the former was the star of the semi-finals.

Heading to Italy with a 2-1 first-leg lead over Fiorentina, Real Betis found themselves 2-1 down and on the brink of being taken to penalties, only for Antony to follow up his free-kick opener with a 97th-minute assist for Abde Ezzalzouli as Betis progressed in the most breathtaking of circumstances.

However, that 2-2 draw marked the start of a demoralising run for Pellegrini’s side, who failed to win any of their last four La Liga games of the campaign, although their sixth-placed ranking in the Spanish top-flight table means that they are already assured of Europa League football.

Almost 20 years have passed since Betis and Chelsea last met in a competitive setting – the Blues won 4-0 at home and lost 1-0 away in the 2005-06 Champions League group stage – and after working in tandem at West Ham United, Maresca now seeks to outdo his former master Pellegrini.

Also read: Manchester United manager slams winger in-front of the whole squad

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