Chelsea are set to chase European history on Wednesday night as they face Spanish side Real Betis in the UEFA Europa Conference League final at Stadion Wroclaw, Poland.
Under the leadership of newly appointed head coach Enzo Maresca, the Blues are aiming to become the first club to win all five major UEFA competitions. With the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, and UEFA Super Cup already in their trophy cabinet, the Conference League is the final piece missing from their continental collection.
Chelsea head into the final as strong favourites following a solid end to their Premier League campaign, which saw them secure Champions League qualification with a narrow 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest. Their European form has also been impressive with 11 wins in 12 matches, with a goal difference of 38 scored and just 9 conceded.
Real Betis, meanwhile, are preparing for their first-ever appearance in a European final. Managed by experienced tactician Manuel Pellegrini, the Andalusian side finished sixth in La Liga and booked their place in the final after a dramatic extra-time win over Fiorentina.
Although Betis have already encountered Polish teams in this season’s tournament losing 1-0 to Legia Warsaw and drawing 1-1 with Jagiellonia Bialystok, they’ll need a much stronger performance to challenge Chelsea’s momentum.
On the team news front, Chelsea will welcome back Christopher Nkunku, who has returned to training after missing the last six games due to injury. Forward Nicolas Jackson is also available, as his suspension applies only to domestic fixtures. However, Marcus Bettinelli, Wesley Fofana, Aaron Anselmino, and Romeo Lavia are ineligible for the competition, though they have travelled with the squad in a show of support.
The final will kick off at 8:00 PM BST (9:00 PM local time) in the 40,000-seater Stadion Wroclaw. Fans can catch the action live on authorised broadcast platforms and official streaming services.
If the match ends level after 90 minutes, extra time and, if necessary, a penalty shootout will decide the winner. VAR will be in use, and all yellow cards except those resulting in suspension were wiped after the quarter-final stage.
The winner will secure a spot in the league stage of the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League. While Chelsea have already clinched a Champions League berth, Real Betis are guaranteed a place in next season’s Europa League through their league position.
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