Bidding to become the first side to win all four major UEFA club competitions, Chelsea square up to Spanish powerhouses Real Betis in the final of the Conference League on Wednesday night in Wroclaw.
Enzo Maresca's men made light work of Swedish outfit Djurgardens IF in the semi-finals to punch an obligatory ticket to the showpiece, while Betis denied Fiorentina another shot at glory.
Match preview
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A Conference League trophy is nice, a place in the Champions League is even nicer, and Chelsea could end a transitional 2024-25 campaign with both under their belts thanks to their successful feats at the City Ground on the last day of the Premier League season.
Headlining gameweek 38 against Nottingham Forest - one of four other teams also fighting for three remaining Champions League places - Chelsea reserved their seat at Europe's top table at the expense of the Tricky Trees thanks to a second-half Levi Colwill finish.
The Blues' 1-0 beating of Nuno Espirito Santo's side triggered the customary celebrations from Maresca's men, who knew that victory by any scoreline would suffice regardless of what happened elsewhere, and a fourth-placed ranking in the Premier League table is something for the manager to shout about.
Chelsea's successful Champions League qualification mission also means that there is less riding on the result of Wednesday's showpiece, where the winner would ordinarily qualify for next season's Europa League, but even though their spot in Europe is not on the line, history is.
Already boasting Champions League, Europa League and Super Cup trophies, the Blues can become the first side to ever win all four UEFA club tournaments in what will be their 13th European final; they have won eight of the previous 12.
Seen as the heavy favourites to clinch the Conference League at the start of the term, Chelsea have lived up to expectations barring two blemishes against Servette and Legia Warsaw, although they have not faced a test of this calibre in the third-tier competition.
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Chelsea's history in continental finals could hardly be richer, but Real Betis will be fighting for a European trophy for the very first time on Wednesday, albeit under a manager who knows a thing or two about lifting cups aloft.
Former Premier League winner Manuel Pellegrini has guided Los Verdiblancos to the 2024-25 final through the process of rejuvenation, having overseen the renaissances of Isco and Antony over the past several months, and the former was the star of the semi-finals.
Heading to Italy with a 2-1 first-leg lead over Fiorentina, Real Betis found themselves 2-1 down and on the brink of being taken to penalties, only for Antony to follow up his free-kick opener with a 97th-minute assist for Abde Ezzalzouli as Betis progressed in the most breathtaking of circumstances.
However, that 2-2 draw marked the start of a demoralising run for Pellegrini's side, who failed to win any of their last four La Liga games of the campaign, although their sixth-placed ranking in the Spanish top-flight table means that they are already assured of Europa League football.
Almost 20 years have passed since Betis and Chelsea last met in a competitive setting - the Blues won 4-0 at home and lost 1-0 away in the 2005-06 Champions League group stage - and after working in tandem at West Ham United, Maresca now seeks to outdo his former master Pellegrini.
Team News
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Chelsea number nine Nicolas Jackson could only watch on helplessly at the City Ground amid his Premier League suspension, but the Senegal international is fine to lead the line in Europe, a significant boost given Christopher Nkunku (knock) remained unavailable at the weekend.
The Frenchman was declared fit by Maresca before the game, though, so there is every chance he was simply spared, but Aaron Anselmino (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Omari Kellyman (hamstring) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended) are still missing.
Furthermore, fit-again midfielder Romeo Lavia has been ineligible for the Conference League all season long, but a few alterations can be expected on the Chelsea side, as Filip Jorgensen, Malo Gusto, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Trevoh Chalobah all seek starts in the final.
As for Real Betis, the hamstring injury that Hector Bellerin picked up in the semi-final second leg with Fiorentina has ruled him out for the rest of the season, and the ex-Arsenal man is one of four guaranteed absentees for the Spaniards alongside Marc Roca (foot), Diego Llorente (hamstring) and Chimy Avila (hamstring).
Giovani Lo Celso's participation is also in doubt, as the Argentine midfielder did not train on Saturday due to muscular discomfort, but Youssouf Sabaly and Johnny Cardoso were both involved after shaking off minor issues.
Sabaly's availability will be particularly crucial in the wake of Bellerin's season-ending injury, while Cedric Bakambu ought to lead the line; now 34, the striker has scored seven Conference League goals this term, one shy of top scorer Afimico Pululu of Jagiellonia Bialystok.
Real Betis possible starting lineup:
Vieites; Sabaly, Bartra, Natan, R. Rodriguez; Cardoso, Altimira; Antony, Isco, Fornals; Bakambu
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Dewsbury-Hall, Fernandez; Sancho, Nkunku, George; Jackson
We say: Real Betis 2-3 Chelsea (a.e.t)
Both teams have scored in each of Real Betis' last 11 matches across all competitions, giving rise to an absorbing, all-action Conference League final, one in which there may not be a clear winner in 90 minutes.
However, Chelsea's bench will pack a much bigger punch than Pellegrini's, so if an additional 30 are needed, Maresca can call on the cavalry to see his side over the line and win a trophy in his first season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
