Betis vs Chelsea: UEFA Europa Conference League Final Preview

On Wednesday, 28 May 2025, the Tarczynski Arena in Wroclaw, Poland, will host the third-ever UEFA Europa Conference League final.

What started out as a "consolation prize" for the so-called smaller clubs has evolved into a competition that now sees Premier League and La Liga sides battling for the trophy. Chelsea and Real Betis, two clubs with very different stories but one shared goal: lifting silverware.

Chelsea: A Billion Spent for Europe's Third Tier

When you’ve spent over a billion euros and end up with just the Conference League, you'd better take it seriously. Chelsea have done exactly that. In the Premier League, they’ve looked like a textbook team battling for TOP 4 all season - but in Europe, it’s been a different story.

They topped their group with ease and swept aside Copenhagen, Legia Warsaw, and Djurgarden on their way to the final, hammering the Swedes 5-1 on aggregate in the semis.

Despite boasting a squad packed with young talent (Enzo, Palmer, Mudryk, Jackson and co.), Chelsea’s domestic campaign has been disappointing. This final represents their chance to salvage something meaningful. The Blues have already won the Champions League and Europa League - a win here would make them the first club to complete the full set of UEFA’s major club competitions.

For Enzo Maresca, it’s a big opportunity to secure a trophy in his first season as Blues manager. Having secured a Champions League spot, this would likely satisfy owner Todd Boehly, who has invested billions.

Betis: Sevilla’s Calm Amid Europe’s Chaos

Betis arrive with less fanfare but more cohesion. While Chelsea have stumbled through a season of ups and downs, Betis have stuck to the same script Manuel Pellegrini has been refining for years: structured, disciplined football with an emphasis on possession and balance.

They finished second in their group, edged past Gent in the play-offs, then beat Vitoria Guimaraes, Jagiellonia, and finally Fiorentina 4-3 on aggregate in a gritty semi-final. It wasn’t always pretty, but it was mature and measured.

Unlike Chelsea, Betis aren’t burdened by expectations. This is the first European final in the club’s history - a massive achievement for the team and the city alike. But they won’t stop here. Pellegrini is a master at getting the most out of low-glamour squads.

A win would mean a European trophy. So yes, there’s plenty on the line.

Team News

Chelsea will be without Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia - both have been out most of the season. Christopher Nkunku missed the semi-finals but is expected to return. Nicolas Jackson, who sat out the last match with a knock, is tipped to lead the line.

Betis have a more complicated situation. Hector Bellerín, Marc Roca and Diego Llorente are all ruled out, while Giovani Lo Celso remains a doubt. Pellegrini may have to shuffle the back line and lean heavily on the experience of William Carvalho and Isco in midfield with in-form Antony who just got call-up for Brazil National Team.

Playing Styles

Chelsea are aggressive, Betis are composed. The Blues thrive on tempo, high pressing, and physicality.

Betis play slower, more methodical football, with a heavy focus on horizontal passing and possession. Chelsea come in as the betting favourites, but the first goal could define the match.

If Chelsea score early, Betis will need to open up - which could prove fatal. But if Betis get the opener, Chelsea may slip into the panic mode we’ve seen far too often this season.

By the Numbers

• Chelsea: 38 goals in the Conference League - more than any other team

• Betis: 22 goals scored

• Chelsea: 6 goals conceded in the knockout stages

• Betis: 10 goals conceded in the knockout stages

• Opta prediction: Chelsea win in regular time — 51.1%; Betis — 25.4%

Facts

• Chelsea could become the first club ever to win all three major UEFA competitions

• This is Betis’ first European final in their history

• Irfan Peljto (Bosnia and Herzegovina) will be the first referee from his country to officiate a European club final

• In penalty shootouts this season: Betis have won 3 of 4; Chelsea have only faced one shootout in the last three years

Who’s the Favourite?

On paper, it’s Chelsea. In reality - it’s a final.

Betis have experience grinding out results in the Copa del Rey and European two-legged ties. Chelsea have the individual brilliance to win games in a flash.

If you're looking for certainty, you won't find it here. But teams featuring Isco, Antony, Palmer, and Neto can always produce moments of magic, and we should see goals in this one – even though the stakes are high with a European trophy on the line.

Where to Bet on the UEFA Conference League Final?

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The Conference League might not have the prestige of the Champions League, but it’s got its own kind of magic.

And this final has everything - a taste of history, the promise of drama, and a trophy that, this year, feels anything but third-tier.