🔊 Who will conclude the season with a single, yet prestigious European trophy? The final of Europe's third-tier club competition, the Conference League, is set to take place at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw. This showdown features two formidable sides: Real Betis and Chelsea. Bookmakers have pegged the English club as the favorite. However, let's not jump to conclusions—let's delve into the pre-match dynamics for a more insightful prediction.

Head-to-Head

📊 It's been nearly 20 years since the teams last faced each other, so their head-to-head history won't be of much help in making a bet.

Real Betis Team Overview

🟢 In the UEFA Conference League semifinals, the "green-and-whites" overcame Italy's Fiorentina. In the first leg at home, they secured a narrow advantage with a 2-1 victory. The situation flipped in the return leg in Italy, as Fiorentina won by the same scoreline (2-1) after 90 minutes. The match went into extra time, and in the 97th minute, Abde Ezzalzouli scored Betis' second goal of the match, sealing a 4-3 aggregate win and sending the Seville side to their first-ever European final.

🔗 Following their advance to the Conference League final, Betis returned to Spain to tackle the remaining challenges in La Liga. In the last four rounds, they failed to secure a single victory, recording draws against Osasuna (1-1), Rayo Vallecano (2-2), and Valencia (1-1), along with a heavy defeat to Atletico Madrid (1-4). Despite the disappointing finish, Betis ended the season in sixth place in the standings, qualifying for the Europa League.

Chelsea Team Overview

🔵 In the UEFA Conference League semi-final, Chelsea had little trouble dispatching Swedish side Djurgården. The Londoners secured a commanding 4-1 victory in the first leg away from home, and then clinched a narrow 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge, conserving energy for more crucial fixtures ahead.

🔗 After advancing to the Conference League final, the Blues shifted their focus to wrapping up the Premier League season, with their primary goal being a top-five finish to qualify for the Champions League. Chelsea suffered a 2-0 defeat at Newcastle, then edged out Manchester United 1-0 at home, and in their final match, traveled to Nottingham where they secured another narrow victory with Levi Colwill scoring the decisive goal (1-0). These results allowed the Blues to finish fourth in the Premier League and return to Europe's premier club competition after a two-year absence.

Latest news

Real Betis

🎙 Head coach Manuel Pellegrini: "Naturally, I'm pleased with reaching the final. It's gratifying to see the joy among Betis supporters. We felt a responsibility towards them and wanted to give them something to cheer about. We're thrilled to be in the final and even more excited about the upcoming match against Chelsea. I sent Maresca a message a while ago, expressing how happy I am for him."

❌ Doubtful for the upcoming game: goalkeeper Francisco Vieites (calf), defender Youssouf Sabaly (shoulder), Johnny Cardoso (ankle). Definitely out: forward Chimy Avila (hamstring), right-back Hector Bellerin (hamstring), center-back Diego Llorente (hamstring injury), and midfielder Marc Roca (foot injury).

Chelsea

🎙 Enzo Maresca: "In Seville, I met my wife, she's from here. My first son was born in this city. I played for Sevilla, but now I am eager to win this final. We have a chance to deliver a unique achievement for the club and the fans. We can become the first team to win all major European trophies. The Conference League is the starting point for building a championship mindset, and from there, we need to win all other titles."

❌ The participation of forwards Christopher Nkunku and Mark Guiu is in doubt for the match. Out due to injuries are Wesley Fofana (hamstring), David Datro Fofana (knee), and Omari Kellyman (hamstring).

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

Irfan Peljto from Bosnia and Herzegovina will officiate the Conference League final. In his last 10 matches, he has issued 28 yellow cards, two second yellows, three red cards, and awarded three penalties. Comparing the teams, Betis averages 1.9 yellow cards per match in this season's Conference League, while Chelsea averages 1.4. We believe it will be challenging for the Sevilla side to contain the Blues' star-studded attack, likely leading them to commit more fouls and accumulate more bookings. We suggest placing a bet on Betis to win the yellow card battle.

⚽ Goal Prediction

Both teams have found the net in Betis' last 11 matches—a trend hard to ignore. Especially considering they face the most prolific team in this season's Conference League. Chelsea excel in attack at this level of European competition, but their defense is far from flawless. The Londoners have conceded goals against Legia, Copenhagen, and Djurgården—teams arguably below Betis' caliber. With this in mind, betting on both teams to score (yes) seems like a promising option.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Betis averages 5.9 corners per Conference League match, while the Blues average 4.9. It's tough to predict who will have the edge in this department, but an attacking game is expected, suggesting there will be plenty of corners. Therefore, a bet on total corners over 9.5 is worth considering.

The Londoners are the favorites heading into this match. Chelsea boast a rich history of appearances and victories in various European finals. Although they haven't lifted silverware in recent years and their squad has undergone a complete overhaul (potentially losing that "champion DNA" temporarily), the individual quality of their players is clearly superior to that of Betis. Moreover, this marks the first European final in Betis' history, and they lack experience at such a high level of competition. Taking these factors into account, we recommend considering a bet on a Chelsea victory.