Chelsea Rally to Win Conference League Final
Chelsea Fight Back to Win UEFA Conference League and Make European History
Chelsea staged a stunning second-half comeback to defeat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final, etching their name into the history books as the first club to win all five of UEFA’s major men’s competitions.
The Blues were just 25 minutes from a disheartening defeat in Wroclaw, Poland, trailing 1-0 after Abde Ezzalzouli’s sharp first-half finish from Isco’s precise pass gave Betis a deserved lead at the break. But the tide turned dramatically in the second half.
Cole Palmer, who wasn’t even registered for the group stage, emerged as the catalyst for Chelsea’s revival.
The England forward delivered two exquisite crosses from the right flank — the first met by Enzo Fernandez, who powered in a header, and the second bundled over the line by Nicolas Jackson at the near post just five minutes later.
Chelsea never looked back after taking the lead. Substitute Jadon Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, made it 3-1 with a curling strike from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s clever pass, while Moises Caicedo sealed the win in stoppage time with a deflected drive from outside the box.
Betis, who had looked the sharper side in the opening 45 minutes and could have extended their lead through Antony, Marc Bartra, and Johnny Cardoso, struggled to match Chelsea’s second-half intensity.
The Spanish side, appearing in their first ever European final, were left heartbroken — with many of their players reduced to tears at the final whistle.
A Historic Night for Chelsea
The victory not only handed Chelsea their first piece of silverware since the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup, but it also completed a clean sweep of UEFA club competitions — the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, Super Cup, and the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup.
Manager Enzo Maresca’s bold decision to field a strong starting XI — keeping six players from their final Premier League game — paid off.
It also capped a promising debut season for the Italian, who guided Chelsea back to the Champions League after a final-day win over Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea became the first non-Spanish club to defeat a Spanish side in a major European or international final since 2002, ending a run of 27 consecutive victories by Spanish teams in such matches.
Tactical Shift Turns the Game
After a flat first half, Maresca’s tactical tweak — bringing on Reece James for Malo Gusto at right-back and switching to an inverted full-back setup — helped Chelsea regain control.
Palmer’s vision and delivery turned the game on its head, and his partnership with Fernandez and Jackson proved decisive. Sancho’s composed finish and Caicedo’s late strike put the result beyond doubt.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, a key figure throughout Chelsea’s Conference League campaign, fittingly assisted Sancho’s goal in his 15th appearance of the tournament.
Chelsea’s European journey doesn’t end here — they will now prepare for the FIFA Club World Cup, set to take place in the United States in mid-June.
Bitter End for Betis
For Real Betis, it was a night that promised history but ended in despair.
Despite a confident first half and inspired performances from Isco and Ezzalzouli, Manuel Pellegrini’s side faded after the interval.
Much of the pre-match attention was on Brazilian winger Antony, on loan from Manchester United, but he failed to make a decisive impact.
Ironically, it was Sancho — another United loanee — who stole the spotlight with his performance.
Betis, who finished sixth in La Liga, showed enough quality to suggest they’ll remain a force in Europe, but this defeat will sting for some time.
For Chelsea, though, it was a night of redemption, resurgence, and European glory.
Chelsea Rally to Win Conference League Final