Chelsea staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday, becoming the first club in European football history to secure all four major UEFA trophies.
The London side, managed by Enzo Maresca, overturned an early deficit to claim the prestigious title at Wroclaw Stadium, marking their first major trophy since the consortium led by Todd Boehly took ownership in 2022.
Real Betis, under Manuel Pellegrini, started the final brightly, taking the lead in the ninth minute through Abde Ezzalzouli. The Moroccan winger capitalised on a midfield error by Chelsea’s Malo Gusto and fired a precise left-footed shot beyond goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, giving the Spanish side an early advantage.
Betis continued to threaten with notable attempts from Marc Bartra and Johnny Cardoso, with Chelsea’s defence and Jorgensen responding well under pressure. Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Chelsea struggled to carve out clear scoring opportunities in the first half, with Isco, the experienced Betis captain and five-time Champions League winner, orchestrating the midfield play effectively.
However, the tide turned in the second half following tactical changes. Chelsea introduced captain Reece James for the tiring Gusto, while Betis replaced Ezzalzouli with Jesus Rodriguez due to injury.
Chelsea’s resurgence was spearheaded by man of the match Cole Palmer, whose vision and creativity unlocked the Betis defence. Palmer delivered a precise cross in the 65th minute, allowing Enzo Fernandez to equalise with a deft header. Just five minutes later, Palmer set up Nicolas Jackson, who scored from close range to put Chelsea ahead.
Substitute Jadon Sancho then sealed the victory in the 83rd minute with a composed finish from a tight angle, before Moises Caicedo added a late fourth, securing a commanding win.
Chelsea’s triumph ended a long-standing pattern of Spanish dominance in European finals. Prior to this match, Spanish teams had won every major men’s final involving La Liga clubs, with defeats only coming against fellow Spanish sides.
The victory also marks a historic milestone for Chelsea, who now hold the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and the defunct Cup Winners’ Cup titles — a unique feat in European club football.
The atmosphere in Wroclaw was electric, with a strong presence of Betis supporters outnumbering Chelsea fans in the city centre. However, tensions flared, and police reported 28 arrests following clashes between rival fans in the market square.
