In a dazzling second-half display, Chelsea turned a 1-0 deficit into a resounding 4-1 victory over Real Betis to win the UEFA Europa Conference League final in Wrocław. The win not only capped a strong end to the season for the Blues but also marked a historic milestone—making Chelsea the first club to win all four major UEFA competitions.
A Tale of Two Halves
The match started brightly for Real Betis, who looked confident in possession and sharp in attack. Their efforts were rewarded in the 9th minute when Abde Ezzalzouli finished off a well-worked move with a low strike into the bottom corner, assisted by the evergreen Isco. The Spanish side controlled the remainder of the first half, taking a deserved 1-0 lead into the break.
However, whatever Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said at half-time had a transformative effect.
Blues Blitz After the Break
The second half was a different story. Chelsea emerged with a renewed intensity and immediately put Real Betis on the back foot. Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s standout creator all season, orchestrated the turnaround. In the 65th minute, he found Enzo Fernández in space, who slotted home the equalizer. Just five minutes later, Palmer picked out Nicolas Jackson with a perfectly weighted pass, and the striker made no mistake to put Chelsea 2-1 up.
The flurry of goals stunned Betis, who struggled to regain their composure. Chelsea’s momentum was unstoppable, and in the 83rd minute, substitute Jadon Sancho added a third with a composed finish at the far post following an assist from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall. Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, may have just scored the goal that secures his Chelsea future.
As if to underline their dominance, Moises Caicedo capped off the performance with a fourth in stoppage time, his long-range shot taking a slight deflection before nestling into the net. Caicedo, who started all 38 Premier League matches this season, was immense again—his engine and tactical discipline pivotal to Chelsea’s control.
A European Milestone
The result means Chelsea have now won the Champions League, Europa League, Cup Winners’ Cup, and the Conference League—an unprecedented feat in European football. The club’s young squad, led by Palmer, Jackson, and Caicedo, is showing signs of maturity and unity that bodes well for the future.
Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell summed it up on Sky Sports: “They are back to winning ways. This is what Chelsea Football Club is all about.”
The Maresca Effect
Credit must also go to Enzo Maresca, who has guided Chelsea back to the Champions League while delivering silverware. His tactical tweaks at half-time and bold substitutions changed the game. As pundit Lucy Ward put it: “Chelsea have turned a good season into a great season.”
The turnaround was also a testament to Maresca’s courage. Having faced criticism for his possession-heavy style earlier in the campaign, he made decisive changes during the final that paid off in emphatic fashion.
Tears and Triumph
As the final whistle blew, Real Betis players dropped to the turf in disappointment, while Chelsea’s squad celebrated with unfiltered joy—dancing to “Freed From Desire” as fans serenaded them from the stands.
It was a night of high drama and emotion, and for Chelsea, a trophy that not only fills a missing gap in their European cabinet but may also signal the dawn of a new era under Maresca.
From despair to dominance, Chelsea’s night in Wrocław will be remembered as one of European football’s great second-half turnarounds.
Read also: Palmer shines as Chelsea boost UCL hopes vs Liverpool
