Real Betis vs Chelsea – ECL Final Preview
Chelsea are the heavy favourites to win the ECL Final on Wednesday, May 28, when they take on Real Betis in Warsaw, Poland, at the Wrocław Stadium.
The two teams were among the pre-tournament favourites to be fighting for the title in Europe’s third club competition, leaving fans unsurprised at the showcase final. Still, it promises to be an entertaining game against two teams who have had solid campaigns.
This ECL Final preview will analyse all of the key aspects of this intriguing tie, as we take a look at Real Betis vs Chelsea in detail, providing a rundown of what to expect and how the two teams got to this point.
Route to the Final
The two teams had a contrasting finish in the league phase of the competition.
The English side achieved what most had expected from them ahead of the tournament, winning each of their games with ease. They scored 26 goals and conceded just five as they kept a 100% record over the six matches played.
For the Spaniards, it was more difficult. They won three, drew one, and lost two as they qualified for the playoff phase after finishing 15th. Goals were hard to come by, as they scored just six, but conceded the same number as their opponents in the upcoming final. They would defeat KAA Gent in that round 3-1 on aggregate to advance to the same stage as their counterparts.
In the round of 16, Chelsea would overcome FC Copenhagen 3-1 on aggregate to advance, with Real Betis defeating Portuguese outfit Vitória SC 6-2 over the two legs. The quarter-finals saw both teams take on Polish opposition and come through relatively easily. The Blues took on Legia Warszawa (winning 4-2 on aggregate, which included a 2-1 defeat in the second leg), whereas the Spaniards beat Jagiellonia Białystok 3-1 over the two matches.
The semi-final saw Chelsea ease past Swedish outfit Djurgårdens IF 5-1 over the two games. Betis would defeat Italian side Fiorentina 4-3 on aggregate to set up a Real Betis vs Chelsea ECL Final.
Tale of the Tape
The latest Real Betis vs Chelsea odds may suggest the English side is the heavy favourite, but it might be much closer than some initially expect.
The Spaniards have been difficult to beat in their last five matches, although wins have also been hard to find. In the last five (not including their final league match against Valencia), they haven’t won a game, with four draws and a recent defeat to Atlético Madrid. They’ve not kept a clean sheet in 10 games, either. Still, they have assured a sixth-placed finish and European football next season.
The Blues are still fighting for a place in the CL next season through PL qualification. They sit fourth with one game to be played. Still, in their last five, four wins and one defeat have occurred. This is why the current ECL odds have them strong favourites to win.
Head-to-Head
Four games have been played between the two clubs, with the English side winning three of those and losing one. They played twice in 1998 in the Cup Winners Cup before meeting again across two games in 2005’s CL. The final meeting saw the Spaniard’s win 1-0 when Dani secured a shock win.
Real Betis’ Experienced Core: Isco, Bakambu & Antony
Manuel Pellegrini’s side boasts plenty of experience, which could make the English side’s perceived walkover anything but easy. Pellegrini has several players who can make a difference, also knows Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca well. The pair worked together as the management team during their time at West Ham United.
Isco is a highly experienced playmaker who still has the ability to create chances for his teammates. The former Real Madrid star is a four-time CL winner and has two goals and two assists so far in the competition, proving he can still be a handful if not managed properly by Chelsea.
Cedric Bakambu is another real goal threat for the Spaniards, especially in this year’s competition. Playing a bit-part role domestically, he has been prolific in continental competition. This season, he has seven goals (two assists) and is one away from tying for the Golden Boot. He didn’t score in the semi-final stage, but the DR Congo international remains a presence that must be watched closely.
Antony will be familiar with Chelsea’s stars after a turbulent time in the English PL with Manchester United. However, he has rediscovered his form in Seville with the Spanish side while on loan. The right-winger has four goals and three assists in his eight appearances in this year’s competition.
Cucurella, Caicedo, & Palmer: Control The Final For Chelsea?
Marseca will have plenty of stars to call upon, but who he goes for will be the biggest question. Check out our thoughts below for our predicted Real Betis vs Chelsea line-up to see how we expect his starting XI to look.
Marc Cucurella remains a free spirit on the pitch, with the Spanish left-back seemingly going anywhere he wants. It makes him a dual-threat, as he can potentially stop Antony from playing effectively on the wing, but he could also crop up in the opposition box and have an attempt on goal. He has been in goalscoring form this season, netting twice so far in this competition, and scored the winner in his last PL outing against Manchester United.
Moises Caicedo is another who can be a threat in both phases, but expect him to be one of those tasked with nullifying the Betis midfield. He’ll be pinned to the likes of Isco and Pablo Fornals to stop them from being creative.
Cole Palmer remains the main attacking threat for the Blues, although he missed most of this year’s competition. Still, he can’t be left alone despite a difficult time on the pitch (by the standards set). If given an opportunity by the defence, he could prove to be a real difference as he has shown in other ways throughout the season.
Predicted Team News & Line-Ups
Both will be without key players as injuries have decimated their squads. The Spaniards won’t have several defenders, including Hector Bellerin, Marc Roca, and Diego Llorente, whereas the English outfit could be without Christopher Nkunku (their top goalscorer in this competition).
Real Betis predicted XI: Adrian; Perraud, Bartra, Natan, Rodriguez; Cardoso, Isco, Lo Celso; Antony, Fornals, Bakambu.
Chelsea predicted XI: Jorgensen; Tosin, Colwill, Badiashile; James, Acheampong, Caicedo, Fernandez, Cucurella; Palmer; Jackson.
Cup Final Odds
The Real Betis vs Chelsea odds have the English side the clear favourite heading into the clash.
Match Result – Real Betis (4.60) – Draw (3.60) – Chelsea (1.82)
It’s clear that Chelsea are the overwhelming favourites and we expect that to be the case. Despite their experience, the Spaniards won’t have enough to deal with them, and we believe a 2-1 victory will be enough on the night for the English outfit.
Last Updated: 23.05.2025
