Chelsea carved their name into European football history on Wednesday night with a stunning second-half comeback to defeat Real Betis 4–1 in the UEFA Conference League final. The dramatic victory not only earned the Blues their first silverware under the Todd Boehly era but also made them the first club ever to win all four major UEFA men’s European competitions: the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup.
A Dream Start for Betis
Manuel Pellegrini’s Real Betis began brightly, playing with flair and purpose. The breakthrough came early in the 9th minute when Abde Ezzalzouli, the hero of their semi-final, capitalized on a Malo Gusto error in midfield. A sharp pass from Isco set Ezzalzouli free, and he made no mistake slotting past Filip Jorgensen.
Betis continued to press, with Marc Bartra and Johnny Cardoso forcing Jorgensen into a pair of fine saves to keep Chelsea’s deficit to just one goal. Despite dominating possession, Chelsea looked toothless in attack and went into the break trailing 0–1.
Maresca’s Tactical Shift Pays Off
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca’s halftime substitution — bringing on captain Reece James for the struggling Gusto — proved pivotal. The Blues returned from the interval transformed, upping the tempo and attacking with greater urgency.
The turning point came in a dazzling five-minute spell midway through the second half. In the 65th minute, Cole Palmer — later named Man of the Match — delivered a pinpoint cross that Enzo Fernandez headed home to level the score. Just five minutes later, Palmer weaved his magic again, slipping past defenders before floating another superb ball into the box. Nicolas Jackson chested it down and volleyed into the net to give Chelsea the lead.
Sealing the Legacy
Betis, already reeling and further weakened by Ezzalzouli’s injury and subsequent substitution, had no answer. In the 83rd minute, Jadon Sancho, another impact sub, linked up beautifully with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall before squeezing a low shot in from a tight angle to make it 3–1. Moises Caicedo added a final flourish in stoppage time, rifling in Chelsea’s fourth.
The emphatic scoreline capped off a remarkable night for Chelsea — a club often criticized for recent instability but now standing alone in European achievement.
Ending a Spanish Streak
Chelsea’s win also snapped a remarkable record: for the first time in 27 major UEFA men’s finals involving Spanish clubs, the Spanish side did not lift the trophy.
Off-Pitch Tensions
The night wasn’t without incident. Pre-match tensions in Wroclaw led to clashes between rival supporters, resulting in 28 arrests. However, the post-match narrative belonged firmly to Chelsea’s on-field exploits.
