Chelsea became the first club in history to win all five major UEFA men’s European competitions after producing a stunning second-half comeback to defeat Real Betis 4-1 in the UEFA Conference League final on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. Inspired by Cole Palmer, the victory secured Chelsea’s first piece of silverware since February 2022.
Real Betis took a deserved lead into halftime after Abde Ezzalzouli fired home following a composed pass from the influential Isco. Chelsea, fielding their strongest available lineup as per head coach Enzo Maresca’s selection, struggled to find their rhythm in the first period and could have been further behind.
However, the Premier League side emerged transformed after the break. The turnaround began when Cole Palmer delivered an inswinging cross from the right for Enzo Fernandez to head home the equaliser. Just five minutes later, Palmer was instrumental again, providing another assist from the right flank for Nicolas Jackson to bundle the ball in with his chest at the near post, putting Chelsea ahead.
Substitute Jadon Sancho, on loan from Manchester United, extended Chelsea’s lead with a well-taken curling finish after being set up by fellow substitute Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – who notably played in all 15 of Chelsea’s Conference League matches this season. Moises Caicedo completed the scoring in injury time with a deflected strike from 20 yards.
This triumph adds the Conference League trophy to Chelsea’s collection, which already includes the Champions League, Europa League, UEFA Super Cup, and the now-defunct Cup Winners’ Cup, making them the inaugural team to achieve this unique “clean sweep.” The victory also significantly broke a long-standing trend, as Chelsea became the first non-Spanish team to defeat a Spanish side in a major men’s European club or international final since 2002, ending a run of 27 consecutive victories for Spanish teams in such encounters.
The win provides a successful conclusion to Enzo Maresca’s first season in charge at Stamford Bridge, complementing their qualification for next season’s Champions League, which was secured on the final day of the Premier League season. Despite being odds-on favourites for the Conference League, this final against a Real Betis side that finished sixth in La Liga represented Chelsea’s most significant test in the competition.
For Real Betis, participating in their first-ever European final, the evening ended in heartbreak. After a promising first half where they outplayed the English side, they were unable to withstand Chelsea’s second-half resurgence.
Chelsea’s season will continue as they are scheduled to participate in the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in mid-June.
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