Inexperienced Betis and experienced Chelsea meet in the Conference League final

Manos Staramopoulos • 28 de mayo de 2025

On Wednesday, all eyes turn to Poland and Wroclaw, where the magnificent stadium will host the Conference League final between Betis, appearing for the first time, and the experienced Chelsea.

Antony and Enzo Fernández player stars of Real Betis and Chelsea FC starrings of UEFA Conference League Final 2025.

On Wednesday, all eyes turn to Poland and Wroclaw, where the magnificent stadium will host the Conference League final between Betis, appearing for the first time, and the experienced Chelsea

One of the key messages from Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini over the past few days has been the need for composure against Chelsea. There is great excitement surrounding the (possible) first European final that the Spanish club can win and dealing with that emotion will be crucial. Which brings us back to the importance of international midfielder Isco, who is not only Betis’ creative catalyst, but also brings all his trophy-winning experience from his time at Real Madrid.


Betis  are not a team that prioritizes safety (shielding their defense) which is indicated by the fact that they have not kept a clean sheet in their last 11 matches. Something that Pellegrini has promised once again that he will do everything he can to find a solution to this issue.


On the other hand, the Italian, Chelsea coach, Enzo Maresca who has played for 4 years with the Betis jersey throughout the season, Maresca used the Conference League as an opportunity to promote and acquire talented young footballers from the academy (and elsewhere). But with trophies at stake. The question is whether he will return to experience for a game that, according to him, can turn a good season into a great one. Especially when you consider that in the last matchday of the Premier League they won 1-0 away from Nottingham Forest and secured the 4th place which gives them the right to appear in the UEFA Champions League next season.


If you add the element of master vs apprentice, when facing his old coach Pellegrini, then I expect him to lean towards his strongest available lineup.


Real Betis (based in Seville) reached their first European final, but the task they face in Wroclaw is difficult. Chelsea looked like title contenders from the start of the league phase, and Enzo Maresca's team travels to Poland aiming for a unique first: victory and they will become the first team to triumph in all five major UEFA men's club competitions, as the "Blues" have already won the UEFA Champions League twice, the Europa League twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice and the now inactive or better integrated into the Europa League, the Cup Winners' Cup twice.


But Betis can also be consoled by a statistic. Since the start of the 2001/02 season, all 23 UEFA Champions League, Europa League or Conference League finals involving Spanish hopefuls have been won by a Spanish team (including four all-Spanish finals - the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals and the 2007 and 2012 Europa League finals).  The last time a La Liga team lost a major UEFA final to a foreign team was when Valencia were defeated by Bayern in the 2001 Champions League.  So we can expect an interesting duel…



Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece)

   Post recientes


Chelsea
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 28 de agosto de 2025
El Chelsea, se enfrentará en esta edición a varios de sus rivales a los que tumbó en su camino a la conquista de su primera Champions en 2012.
PSG  y bayern
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 28 de agosto de 2025
Los duelos entre el PSG y el Bayern ya se están convirtiendo en habituales en el fútbol internacional. Ahora se volverán a ver las caras en la próxima UCL
Rubén Amorim
Por Manos Staramopoulos 26 de agosto de 2025
With one point from two matches; Ruben Amorim’s, team is still suffering from a negative streak that began last April.
Río Ngumoha
Por Manos Staramopoulos 26 de agosto de 2025
Río Ngumoha, scored a gol against Newcastle United and writing his name in golden letters as he became the youngest scorer in the history of the Reds.
Río Ngumoha
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 25 de agosto de 2025
El joven inglés de 16 años Río Ngumoha, tumbó a los "magpies" en la adicción y selló el segundo triunfo del Liverpool, ante el Newcastle.
Kylian Mbappe
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 24 de agosto de 2025
El francés ex del PSG; Kylian Mbappe, fue imparable para el Real Oviedo que sufrió la pegada del jugador más resolutivo en este inicio de La Liga.
Renato Sanches
Por Manos Staramopoulos 24 de agosto de 2025
The 28-year-old Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches is the 8th addition to the Clover roster for the new season 25-26.
Arne Slot
Por Manos Staramopoulos 24 de agosto de 2025
The Reds are called upon to defend their Premier League title and qualify for the UEFA Champions League. Great challenges.
Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal
Por Juan Carlos Quiñonez Bonilla 23 de agosto de 2025
El primer partido del sueco en el Emirates Stadium, se saldó con dos goles, igualando un viejo registro de Gabriel Jesús.