Chelsea and Real Betis will contest a European trophy on Wednesday night in Wroclaw, Poland.
The Blues are currently preparing to face Spanish club Betis in the UEFA Conference League final.
Now that Enzo Maresca’s team has secured Champions League qualification for next season by finishing fourth in the Premier League, it feels like there is less pressure going into Wednesday’s final showdown.
If Chelsea do beat Betis in midweek, they will become the first club to win every major European trophy. It should serve as a big incentive for the players to finish the 2024/25 season in style by winning silverware.
Chelsea’s predicted XI against Real Betis includes several changes from their side that beat Nottingham Forest during Sunday’s final day of the Premier League.
Photo by Molly Darlington - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Molly Darlington – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Jose Mourinho prediction on Chelsea vs Real Betis
Jose Mourinho, the former Chelsea manager and Blues legend, is predicting a tough fixture for his old club against an impressive Betis outfit who finished sixth in La Liga.
Mourinho told Sky Sports: “I think Chelsea is a club that wants to win Champions Leagues, not Conference Leagues. But it is a trophy. To be the only club in the world to get all three is amazing.
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“But attention with Betis. I think Betis can compete. They have a team. They have an experienced coach. They have a great mentality, too. I think it’s going to be a good final.”
Photo by Omer Faruk Salman/Anadolu via Getty Images
Photo by Omer Faruk Salman/Anadolu via Getty Images
Joe Cole’s prediction for Chelsea against Real Betis is a narrow victory for the Premier League outfit.
For the Blues, they go into the midweek final knowing their form in the final stretch of the season has been very strong. They just need one more big performance to make it a memorable debut year for Maresca as the club’s head coach.
It’s worth noting that Chelsea have breezed through the Conference League competition this campaign, but Betis may represent a fierce challenge with recognisable names such as Isco and Antony.
Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini predicts an “entertaining” final against Chelsea, and we expect to see the Blues play with the handbrake off.
Photo by Flor Tan Jun/Getty Images
Photo by Flor Tan Jun/Getty Images
Moises Caicedo must play against Real Betis
The biggest dilemma for Maresca going into the Conference League final is how loyal he should be in his team selection to the players that have featured in the majority of the tournament.
Ultimately, Chelsea need a strong XI to compete with a strong opposition, especially when a trophy is on the line.
Without a doubt, Betis attacking midfielder Isco, 33, is the individual to look out for.
Competition Appearances Goals Assists
La Liga 22 9 8
Conference League 8 2 2
Copa del Rey 2 1 0
Real Betis star Isco in the 2024/25 season
While we expect to see Blues left-back Marc Cucurella have a fascinating battle with Betis winger Antony, the final could be won and lost in the centre of the park.
It’s why we would definitely like to see 23-year-old Chelsea rock Moises Caicedo start in the defensive midfield spot to limit Isco’s influence on the contest.
Robert Sanchez rates Moises Caicedo as the world’s very best defensive midfielder right now, so it’s a great luxury to have him available to get through so much great work in the centre of the park.