Chelsea can become the first club to win all four live UEFA trophies if they win the Europa Conference League Final this Wednesday and the Blues are 4/5 favourites to overcome Real Betis, who will be contesting the first European final in their 117-year history in Wroclaw.
Managed by former Manchester City and West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini, Los Verdiblancos have every chance of pushing the Blues close in Poland. Our best bet expects Enzo Maresca’s side to complete the set, but factors in the Seville side finding the net.
Chelsea to win & over 2.5 goals
@ 19/10
Bet on the latest Europa League odds at Betzone
Form book guarantees Betis raise their game against big sides
The sheer variety in various journalists’ predicted Chelsea line-ups shows how difficult it is to second guess to what extent Maresca will keep faith with the fringe players that have got them to the final rather than just rolling out all his biggest guns now there’s a trophy on the line.
Betis’ approach to squad management will be far more certain – there’s no chance of Pellegrini half-cooking his selection in the club’s first ever European final. That means fielding a team that has secured very good results against La Liga’s elite sides this season.
Pellegrini’s men held Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao home and away in the league, beat Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid at Estadio Benito Villamarín and beat Villarreal on the road. Of Spain’s five Champions League qualifiers only Real Madrid were able to shut them out (once).
Chelsea have been far from impenetrable in this competition
Spain’s best haven’t been able to blank Betis this term and the Blues may struggle too, despite arriving into this showpiece on a run of three clean sheets in their last four games.
Chelsea have shipped in eight of their 14 Europa Conference League games en route to the final despite often fielding first-choice defenders – including against lowly Servette, Astana and Shamrock Rovers.
Europe League qualifiers Betis will be a step up on any side the west London club have faced in the competition so far and they can find the net to play their part in the over 2.5 goals part of our best bet.
Blues greater bench depth should see them find extra gears
Ultimately, however, the extra depth on offer to Maresca courtesy of Chelsea’s sizable, eye-wateringly expensive squad is expected to prove decisive.
Even if the Italian does decide to keep the wraps on some of his top talent to begin with he will be able to call upon game-changing quality.
Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Nicholas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, Noni Madueke and Tyrique George won’t all start, but those that are overlooked for the XI will come on with a point to prove and can help their manager carry the game away from Betis.
More from Betzone News here.
