Chelsea staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final in Wroclaw on Wednesday, thereby becoming the first club to claim all four major European trophies.
Manuel Pellegrini’s dynamic Betis initially caught the favorites off guard in Poland with an early goal from Abde Ezzalzouli. However, Enzo Maresca’s team transformed in the second half, demonstrating a remarkably different performance.
Two goals scored within five minutes dramatically altered the complexion of the match. Man of the match Cole Palmer was instrumental in creating both opportunities—first setting up Enzo Fernandez, then Nicolas Jackson.
Substitute Jadon Sancho sealed the victory in the 83rd minute with a precise finish from a tight angle, and Moises Caicedo added further emphasis to the scoreline.
This victory signifies that Chelsea is now the first club to have won the complete set of major European club competitions: the Champions League, Europa League, Conference League, and the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup.
It also marks the club’s first piece of silverware since Todd Boehly’s consortium acquired the club from former owner Roman Abramovich in 2022, concluding an era of unparalleled success.
Following an energetic start from both sides, Betis broke the deadlock in the ninth minute through Ezzalzouli, who had also scored the crucial goal against Fiorentina that secured their place in the final.
Malo Gusto’s loss of possession in midfield initiated Betis’s swift forward surge. Captain Isco delivered a clever pass to find Ezzalzouli at the edge of the box, and the Moroccan adeptly drilled a left-footed shot past Filip Jorgensen.
Minutes later, Marc Bartra attempted a long-range shot as Betis pressed for a second goal, but Jorgensen was up to the task, executing a flying save.
Spurred on by their large contingent of fans at Wroclaw Stadium, Betis came close again when Johnny Cardoso’s shot from inside the box was deflected wide by Benoit Badiashile, with Chelsea narrowly avoiding conceding.
The Premier League side maintained the majority of possession but struggled to create significant scoring opportunities, as Betis defended resolutely and Isco—a five-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid—orchestrated their play.
As halftime approached, Betis goalkeeper Adrian rushed off his line to deny Enzo Fernandez, and Chelsea headed into the break still trailing.
Palmer’s Brilliance
At halftime, Maresca introduced Chelsea captain Reece James for the struggling Gusto.
Betis was also forced to make a change when goalscorer Ezzalzouli had to be replaced by Jesus Rodriguez.
Chelsea equalized in the 65th minute after a fluid attacking move down the right flank, culminating in Cole Palmer delivering a pinpoint cross for Fernandez.
The midfielder expertly glided between two defenders to head the ball down and past Adrian.
Suddenly, Chelsea’s momentum surged, and the fans behind the goal erupted with renewed energy.
In the 70th minute, Palmer once again displayed his exceptional skill, dancing at the edge of the box before whipping in a delightful ball that struck Jackson’s chest and rolled into the net.
Jackson had an opportunity to add another goal, but a heavy touch allowed Adrian to gather the ball.
Sancho extended Chelsea’s lead to 3-1 after combining effectively with fellow substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Moises Caicedo scored a fourth to definitively seal the victory.
Chelsea’s triumph marks a significant break in a long-standing pattern of success for Spanish clubs in European competitions.
Considering the World Cup, European Championship, Champions League, and UEFA Cup/Europa League, all 27 previous men’s finals involving Spanish teams had resulted in Spanish winners.
On the rare occasions when Spanish sides were defeated, it was consistently by fellow La Liga teams.
Earlier in the day, the center of Wroclaw was bustling with supporters from both clubs, with green-and-white clad Betis fans outnumbering their English counterparts.
Poland’s interior minister reported that police made 28 arrests after clashes occurred between fans in the city’s market square.
