Conference League: Meet the finalists

Thirty-six teams were on the start line for the 2024/25 UEFA Conference League proper, and now only two remain for the final in Wrocław on Wednesday 28 May.

We profile the remaining contenders – Real Betis and Chelsea.

Real Betis (ESP)

League phase position: 15
Semi-finals: 4-3 agg vs Fiorentina, aet
Quarter-finals: 3-1 agg vs Jagiellonia
Round of 16: 6-2 agg vs Vitória SC
KO play-offs: 3-1 agg vs Gent
League phase record: W3 D1 L2 F6 A5 Pts 10
How they qualified: Play-offs (5-0 agg vs Kryvbas)
Last season: Europa League group stage, Conference League knockout phase play-offs (1-2 agg vs GNK Dinamo)
Best Conference League performance: Semi-finals (2024/25)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 42

Simon Hart, UEFA.com Betis reporter: Betis finished 15th in the league phase table and had to contest a play-off with Gent. Yet they have since found their wings – symbolised by the identity of their opening scorer in their 3-0 play-off victory in Belgium, Antony. The Brazilian has proved a talismanic presence since his midwinter arrival on loan from Manchester United and scored brilliant goals in both legs of the semi-final. With the experienced Isco pulling the strings in the No10 role, Betis have the attacking class to trouble any opponents.

Why they can win the competition
Never underestimate the intangible things in football – belief is crucial and momentum helps enormously, and Betis have both right now. Manuel Pellegrini's men have built an impressive head of steam. This is a team who lost just one of 16 matches up to and including the 2-2 semi-final draw at Fiorentina on 8 May. Antony is a player reborn in the green and white half of Seville, Isco's creative powers are flowing under a coach with absolute faith in the veteran, and on top of that, this is a team with a sense of mission, determined to create history with their club's first European trophy.

How they play
Pellegrini's preferred system is a 4-2-3-1, save for a brief mid-season switch to 4-4-2 owing to injuries. The experienced Chilean likes technicians in his team and Betis have players capable of unlocking defences with their passing ability – men like Isco, Pablo Fornals and Giovani Lo Celso. With that penetrating passing, they look to get behind defences through their wingers and seven-goal striker Cédric Bakambu and carry a strong threat on transitions. Thanks to the duo of Isco and Antony, their set-piece potential is considerable too.

Chelsea (ENG)

League phase position: 1
Semi-finals: 5-1 agg vs Djurgården
Quarter-finals: 4-2 agg vs Legia Warszawa
Round of 16: 3-1 agg vs Copenhagen
League phase record: W6 D0 L0 F26 A5 Pts 18
How they qualified: Play-offs (3-2 agg vs Servette)
Last season: Did not feature in UEFA club competition
Best Conference League performance: Semi-finals (2024/25)
UEFA coefficient ranking: 8

Joe Terry, UEFA.com Chelsea reporter: Chelsea's plain sailing through the league phase and early knockout rounds was disrupted by the unexpected loss at home to Legia Warszawa in the quarter-final: the club's first-ever European defeat at Stamford Bridge outside the UEFA Champions League. Their return to form since then suggests they have put it behind them, which is excellent timing because Real Betis in the final will undoubtedly be their toughest test of the competition.

Why they can win the competition
Since the beginning of the season, Chelsea have been the biggest club in the Conference League, with more quality throughout the team than their opponents and more strength in depth. One of their biggest motivations, meanwhile, is to make history by becoming the first club to have won every senior UEFA men's competition: they have won the Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup. The Conference League would complete the set.

How they play
Enzo Maresca cut his teeth as a youth team coach working under Pep Guardiola, and follows the same footballing philosophy. He sets his teams out to dominate matches through possession, with patient build-up play at the back which turns into sharp one- and two-touch combinations higher up the pitch. The notional formation is a 4-2-3-1, but one of the full-backs, usually Marc Cucurella, is expected to step into midfield in the opposition's half.

UEFA coefficient rankings correct as of end of the semi-final second legs.