Blues favourites in Conference League showdown with Betis

 Real Betis and Chel­sea will do battle in the Conference League final today.

After guaran­teeing themselves a place in next season’s Champions League, the Blues can cap off an impressive campaign under Enzo Maresca by completing the set in terms of European trophies.

Twice winners of the Champi­ons League and Europa League, the Conference League – a competition which was only introduced in 2021 – is the only missing piece from the west London outfit’s European collection.

Having started out as the red-hot favourites to lift the trophy, Chelsea are one game away from meeting those expectations and should be on a high following an impressive end to the Premier League season.

That said, 2025 has been the year of the underdog in cup competi­tions. Real Betis have never won a European trophy in their history but will be looking to take inspiration from the likes of Tottenham, Bolo­gna, Crystal Palace, Newcastle and Aberdeen by causing a big shock.

The LaLiga side’s hopes of victory rest on the shoulders of Isco and on-loan Manchester United winger Antony who has enjoyed a fruitful loan spell since making the switch in the January transfer window.

The form book points to one outcome in Poland.

Maresca’s side finished the Premier League season strongly, winning four of their last five games – including beating Liverpool, Man Utd and Nottingham Forest.

Meanwhile Betis have failed to win any of their last four and suf­fered a heavy loss away at Atletico Madrid 10 days after overcoming Fiorentina to book their place in the final.

In keeping with the two Europe­an cup finals that have taken place in the past week and Chelsea’s recent mean streak defensively, it would not be a surprise if one goal settles this  clash in favour of the Blues.

This will be the first meeting between the two sides in nearly 20 years! They faced off in the Cham­pions League group phase back in the 2005/06 season, trading home wins apiece.-Standard

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