Chelsea became the first club to win all five major UEFA competition titles as two brilliant assists in the space of five second-half minutes from Cole Palmer inspired the Blues to a 4-1 comeback victory over Real Betis Balompié in the UEFA Conference League final.
Chelsea produced a second-half masterclass to thrash Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Europa Conference League final, becoming the first club to win all five major UEFA trophies. Two brilliant assists from Cole Palmer sparked a sensational comeback for the Blues, who were trailing at the break.
Betis Start Bright but Waste Big Chances
Coming into the final with Europa League qualification already secured via their LaLiga finish, Real Betis looked confident and composed. Their sharp play was rewarded early on when Isco slipped a clever ball across the Chelsea box and Abde Ezzalzouli smashed it into the bottom corner for his sixth goal in the competition.
Abde Ezzalzouli Goal pic.twitter.com/tkJTtEf1pv
— Darian (@tweetsbydarian) May 28, 2025
It was the kind of start manager Manuel Pellegrini would’ve dreamed of, and Betis nearly doubled their lead minutes later. Marc Bartra curled a dangerous shot towards the top corner, only to be denied by Filip Jorgensen’s fingertip save.
Chelsea struggled to match Betis’ intensity in the opening half-hour. Johnny Cardoso had a golden opportunity to extend the Spanish side’s lead before the break, but his wild shot flew over the bar.
Chelsea Struggle Early But Hold On
Chelsea, determined to end a miserable run of nine straight losses for English clubs in UEFA finals against Spanish opposition, managed to stay in the game despite being second best for much of the first half. A speculative strike from Pedro Neto was about the closest they came to threatening Betis goalkeeper Adrian, with clear chances proving hard to come by.
Coach Enzo Maresca’s halftime talk seemed to spark new life into his players. The introduction of Reece James brought a much-needed spark to Chelsea’s attack. The captain’s presence lifted the tempo and confidence of the team as they came out flying in the second half.
Palmer Turns the Game on Its Head
The turning point came in the 65th minute. Cole Palmer, Chelsea’s assist king, whipped in a perfect cross that Enzo Fernandez rose to meet, glancing a fine header past Adrian to bring the scores level. The goal energized the Blues, and within five minutes they had flipped the script completely.
Enzo Fernandez Goal pic.twitter.com/cqZiKsXImJ
— Darian (@tweetsbydarian) May 28, 2025
Palmer wasn’t done. Showing quick feet and dazzling control, he beat his marker and delivered a wicked ball across the face of goal. Nicolas Jackson ghosted between defenders and tapped it home for a 2-1 Chelsea lead.
From behind to ahead in just five minutes – the speed and precision of Chelsea’s play left Betis rattled. The Spanish side looked shell-shocked and struggled to regain any rhythm as Chelsea seized control.
Sancho Seals It, Caicedo Adds the Shine
With the clock ticking down, Chelsea didn’t ease up. In the 83rd minute, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Jadon Sancho combined in style. Dewsbury-Hall played in Sancho, who took a touch and fired a curling shot into the top corner from just inside the box.
Jadon Sancho scored the third goal for Chelsea (1-4)pic.twitter.com/iPlIn7hbgX
— Dennoh (@CFC_dennoh) May 28, 2025
The goal all but sealed the result, but Chelsea still had time for one more. In added time, Moises Caicedo tried his luck from range, and a deflection helped the ball past Adrian to make it 4-1. A stunning second-half blitz had crushed Betis and secured Chelsea’s fifth consecutive win in a European final.
Palmer and Maresca Deliver History
Cole Palmer’s influence was undeniable. The winger, who has grown into a key figure for Chelsea this season, showed maturity beyond his years with two assists that completely changed the direction of the match.
EUROPEAN WINNERS!!! pic.twitter.com/sCm3slcbJv
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 28, 2025
Enzo Maresca also deserves huge credit. In his first season in charge, the former Leicester City boss guided the Blues through the competition with style and has now delivered a European trophy in his debut campaign.
Chelsea’s triumph now means they’ve won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Super Cup, and now the UEFA Conference League. No other club in history can boast such a complete European trophy cabinet.
From a nervy first half to a dominant second-half performance, Chelsea showed resilience, quality, and flair. Their ability to bounce back and control the game after the break underlines the progress being made under Maresca’s leadership.
The fans who travelled to the final will never forget this night. And with young stars like Palmer, Fernandez, and Jackson stepping up, Chelsea’s future on the continental stage looks very bright indeed.
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