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The UEFA Conference League has reached the final with Real Betis taking on Chelsea on Wednesday, May 26th. The final is taking place at the Tarczyński Arena Wrocław in Wrocław, Poland, and will host almost 43,000 fans eager to see who will become the fourth team to take home the trophy.
If Chelsea win, they will become the first team to have won all UEFA European trophies, effectively completing the set. The Blues head into the game having qualified for next season’s Champions League, beating Nottingham Forest on the last day of the Premier League to confirm their place in UEFA’s premier competition.
Real Betis finished their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Valencia, having nothing to play for on their final day as they had already confirmed sixth place in La Liga and qualified for next season’s Europa League.
Both teams will head into Wednesday’s match with their sights now set on continental glory and a chance to finish the season with silverware. It is set to be a great game between two great teams.
Real Betis vs Chelsea key information
• Date: Wednesday, May 26
• Kick-off time: 8pm GMT
• Venue: Tarczyński Arena Wroclaw, Wroclaw
• Referee: Irfan Peljto
• VAR: Jerome Brisard
• TV channels: TNT Sports (UK)
• Odds: BET (7/2) - DRAW (5/2) - CHE (4/5)
Real Betis team news
Real Betis will be in Wroclaw from Monday with a few question marks over key players. After the game against Valencia on Friday, Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini put doubt over the fitness of Giovani Lo Celso (muscle strain), first-choice keeper Fran Vieites (calf) and right-back Youssouf Sabaly (shoulder).
Along with those three, there are questions about holding midfielder Johnny Cardoso. The USA international missed the Valencia game with an ankle injury but is expected to be fit enough for the final. Confirmed absentees for the game are Ezequiel Ávila (hamstring), Hector Bellerín (hamstring), Diego Llorente (muscular) and Marc Roca (foot).
Betis predicted lineup vs Chelsea, (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Manuel Pellegrini
Adrian; Sabaly, Bartra, Natan, Rodríguez; Cardoso, Fornals; Antony, Isco, Ezzalzouli; Bakambu
Chelsea team news
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was unhappy with the scheduling of both teams' final games, with Chelsea having to play on Sunday before the Wednesday final. In contrast, Betis played their final game on Friday, getting 48 hours longer to prepare for the Conference League final.
Despite having less time to prepare, the Chelsea squad are in better shape than Betis’ team. There are no significant injuries other than to Wesley Fofana, so Maresca will have almost his full outfit to choose from. He has already said that Filip Jorgensen will start as he has in every other round, so we can expect that other stalwarts of the Conference League - players like Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Benoit Badiashile - to start too.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Real Betis, (4-2-3-1)
Coach: Enzo Maresca
Jorgensen; James, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Cucurella; Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.
Where to watch on TV?
You can watch the UEFA Conference League Final on TNT Sports. You can access TNT Sports with a subscription to Discovery+, which can be streamed online or through the app, or can be downloaded to your smart TV and games console. TNT Sports is also accessible as a TV Channel through your TV network provider.
Head-to-Head record
Chelsea head into the final in much better form than Betis. Chelsea have won seven of their last eight games in all competitions, keeping clean sheets on four of those. Despite having less time to rest before the game, Chelsea can ride this momentum into it and take hope from their opponents' form.
Real Betis have not won in their last five games in all competitions, and some of that may be down to taking their eye off the ball after qualifying for the Europa League. In the Conference League, Betis have lost three, drawn four and won seven on their way to the final, scoring 22 goals and earning five clean sheets. In comparison, Chelsea have won 11, drawn one, scored 38 goals and kept five clean sheets. Chelsea go in as favourites on paper.
The two teams have only met twice before in European competitions, and that was in the 2005/06 Champions League group stages. Chelsea won the first game at Stamford Bridge 4-0 before losing the second game 1-0.
Odds for Real Betis vs Chelsea
Bet365 have Chelsea down as strong favourites to lift the trophy in Wroclaw. The Blues are 4/5 to win in comparison to Betis’ 7/2. It is a final, so anything can happen, but Chelsea would be thoroughly disappointed with anything other than bringing silverware back to London after being favourites to win the whole tournament from the start.
Odds correct at time of writing. Odds subject to change.