Chelsea staged a brilliant second-half comeback to defeat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final, clinching their first trophy since the club was taken over by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. The star of the night was undoubtedly Cole Palmer, whose two sublime assists within five minutes turned the tide and helped deliver a long-awaited piece of silverware.
The match began with Chelsea struggling to settle. Despite recently securing a return to the Champions League, their performance in the first half was disjointed and sluggish. Betis, playing in their first European final, started with more urgency and purpose. It was no surprise when they took the lead early, capitalising on Chelsea’s vulnerabilities. A misplaced pass from Malo Gusto invited pressure, and Betis exploited the opening with precision. Isco, pulling the strings in midfield, slipped a perfectly disguised pass to Abde Ezzalzouli, who fired a low shot into the net.
Chelsea looked rattled. Their tactical setup faltered, with Gusto’s hybrid midfield role leaving the right flank exposed. In defence, the partnership of Benoît Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah looked uncertain, and Betis, inspired by Isco, kept probing. Marc Bartra tested Chelsea’s goalkeeper from distance, while Johnny Cardoso forced a crucial block from Badiashile. As the first half ended, Chelsea’s only relief was going in just one goal down.
A key turning point came at the break. Reece James was brought on to replace the beleaguered Gusto, instantly bringing balance and composure to Chelsea’s setup. Though the attackers continued to struggle, with Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto failing to make an impact, Betis began to lose their intensity. The loss of Ezzalzouli to injury further blunted their attacking edge, and Chelsea started to gain control.
The shift in momentum became clear as Chelsea’s midfield duo, Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo, began to dominate possession. Palmer, quiet in the first half, suddenly burst into life. His first assist was a delicate cross from the right, arcing perfectly for Fernández to head home the equaliser. Minutes later, Palmer weaved his way past defenders and delivered a firmer ball into the box, which Nicolas Jackson controlled on his chest before slotting past the keeper to give Chelsea the lead.
From that moment, Chelsea looked unstoppable. Their superior fitness, technical quality, and squad depth came to the fore. Substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall drove through the Betis defence and laid the ball off to Jadon Sancho, who curled in the third. Any lingering Betis hopes were extinguished when Caicedo capped off the night with a thunderous strike from outside the box in stoppage time.
For Chelsea, this victory was more than just a Conference League title. It marked a moment of vindication for a squad that had endured heavy scrutiny and upheaval. With Palmer proving a sensational signing and the team showing resilience and quality when it mattered most, the night in Wrocław may well be remembered as the start of a new era of success.
