Chelsea staged a powerful second-half comeback to defeat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final held in Wroclaw on Wednesday, becoming the first club to secure all four major European titles.
Real Betis, managed by Manuel Pellegrini, stunned the favorites early on with a ninth-minute goal from Abde Ezzalzouli. However, Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea responded decisively after the break. Within five minutes, Chelsea turned the game around as Cole Palmer set up goals for Enzo Fernandez and Nicolas Jackson, shifting momentum firmly in their favor.
Jadon Sancho extended the lead in the 83rd minute, netting from a narrow angle after combining with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Moises Caicedo later sealed the result with a fourth goal, confirming Chelsea’s dominance.
This victory marks Chelsea’s first trophy since the club’s ownership changed hands in 2022 from Roman Abramovich to Todd Boehly’s consortium. It also breaks a long-running streak of Spanish success in European and international finals, as this was the first time a Spanish club lost a European final to a non-Spanish team in 27 outings.
Betis had enjoyed a promising start, taking the lead when Malo Gusto lost possession and Isco fed Ezzalzouli, who fired across Filip Jorgensen. The Spanish side pressed for a second, but Chelsea survived the pressure thanks to key saves and blocks.
The Premier League side went into halftime trailing but looked reinvigorated after the interval, especially following the introduction of captain Reece James. Cole Palmer’s influence grew significantly, providing the crosses that led to the comeback goals and earning him man-of-the-match honors.
Earlier in the day, Wroclaw saw passionate fan gatherings, though the occasion was marred by clashes between rival supporters that led to 28 arrests, according to Polish authorities.
What you should know
Chelsea’s 4-1 victory over Real Betis in the UEFA Conference League final not only earned them their first piece of silverware under the ownership of Todd Boehly’s consortium but also placed them in the history books as the only club to have won all four major European competitions—the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and the defunct Cup Winners’ Cup.
The win ended a long-standing run of victories by Spanish teams in European finals, underscoring Chelsea’s resurgence under Enzo Maresca. Cole Palmer’s standout performance and key substitutions were instrumental in securing the club’s landmark achievement in Wroclaw.
