For an hour it looked as if Betis Sevilla could win his first international title – but then FC Chelsea turned up 4: 1 (0: 1) in the final of the Conference League and created historical.
The English are now the first team in Europe that all international club competitions have won. Before the Conference League triumph, Chelsea won the Champions League in the 2011/12 and 2020/21 seasons as well as the Europa League in 2012/13 and 2018/19. Coach Enzo Maresco crowned a strong first season – his first as head coach in a first division team – after making it fourth with the club in the Premier League.
This was made possible in particular by Cole Palmer, who was not shining as a scorer this time, but outstanding template. With his flanks, he prepared the goals of Enzo Fernandez (66.) and Nicolas Jackson (70th), and the early Betis leadership had already taken care of Ezzalzouli in the ninth minute. Jadon Sancho (83.) and Moises Caicedo (90.+1) provided a clear matter with two great goals.
Betis surprises Chelsea led by Isco
Chelsea had previously achieved the qualification for the Champions League with a strong final spurt in the Premier League (five victories from the final six games), while Betis had no competitive game since the beginning of May – but there was nothing more to be seen in the game. The “blues” had significantly more possession, but the Spaniards radiated danger with every attack. And that quickly resulted in leadership.
From the beginning, veteran Isco was the linchpin and outstanding man in the field – and then he also became a preparer. After a high ball win, the 33-year-old, who once had celebrity in Germany because of his burst transfer to Union Berlin, set Ezzalzouli into scene and whose low shot rustled into the opposing goal (9th).
Sevilla impresses at the premiere, Chelsea does not initially impress with historical opportunity
And even after that, the Chelsea goal was the one under fire. Former Dortmund Marc Batra almost surprised Filip Jörgensen with a long -distance shot, but the goalkeeper fished the ball from the angle with an air parade (13th). Shortly afterwards, a defender saved for him after Ezzalzouli danced through the English defense and Johnny Cardoso made a big chance from a short distance (21st).
Chelsea was the first club to win all current continental competitions as the first club in Europe. But Betis played with the carefreeness of a final debutant (it was the first international final in club history) and thus had the better approach, at least in the first half. Chelsea played too slow, the Spaniard’s defensive could never really endanger.
Chelsea meets thanks to Palmer and Fernandez
For the first time it was turbulent in Seville’s penalty area in the 55th minute. After a cross from Noni Madueke, Jackson picked up to head the ball into the goal – Betis keeper Adrian jumped in between, first fisted the ball and then hit his opponent. Chelsea wanted a penalty, but there was rightly only one corner for the English, more did not happen.
However, this scene was evidence that Chelsea now played straight towards the opposing goal and less practiced the sluggish possession of the ball from the first round. And that was rewarded. On a cross from the right half field, Palmer showed the entire finesse in his left foot and served precisely on the head of Fernandez, which equalized (66.).
Palmer turns on and Chelsea the game
A little later, Palmer was not to separate from the ball again on the right, then surprisingly lay on his right foot for the opponent and hit Jackson’s head, which had no trouble from six meters (70th). Chelsea had earned the lead at that moment, was dominant, while Betis gave the impression that it had used too many forces in the strong first half.
The Spaniards tried again, but the last resistance ended when Sancho had his great gone moment. As in the best BVB times, he led the ball over to the left into the penalty area and circled it into the far corner to 3-1 for Chelsea (83.). Caicedo made the end of the end with a strong shot from 18 meters (90.+1).
The second half of a chelsea party, Maresca and Co. were able to celebrate a title win in their first season. Last season, the 45-year-old Leicester City led back to the Premier League and then changed to the Stamford Bridge. There he now trains the first all-time winner in Europe.