Seville-based Real Betis have reached their first European final, but the challenge awaiting them in Wroclaw is formidable. Chelsea have been strong title contenders since the beginning of the league phase, and Enzo Maresca's team arrives in Poland with a historic goal: a victory would make them the first side to win all five of UEFA's major men's senior club competitions, having already secured two UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Europa Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, and two editions of the former UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

Nevertheless, Betis can draw encouragement from one statistic. Since the 2001/02 season began, all 23 Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League finals involving Spanish teams have been won by Spanish clubs (including four all-Spanish finals: the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals, and the 2007 and 2012 Europa League finals). The last time a Spanish club lost a major UEFA final to a non-Spanish team was when Valencia fell to Bayern Munich in the 2001 Champions League final.

There will also be an interesting subplot on the touchline in Wroclaw. Chelsea's Italian coach Maresca once played under Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini as a midfielder at Málaga during the 2011–12 season and later served as Pellegrini's assistant at West Ham in 2018–19: "He is like my professional dad," Maresca joked ahead of their reunion.

Meanwhile, Betis fans may remember Maresca from his four seasons as a player with their rivals Sevilla, where he scored the decisive goal in a derby victory against Betis in November 2005. "I know they don't like me," he said with a smile.

Possible line-ups

Real Betis: Adrián; Sabaly, Bartra, Natan, Rodríguez; Cardoso, Fornals; Antony, Isco, Ezzalzouli; Bakambu

Doubtful: Fran Vieites (calf), Sabaly (shoulder)

Out: Ezequiel Ávila (hamstring), Bellerín (hamstring), Diego Llorente (muscular), Marc Roca (foot)

Chelsea: Jørgensen; James, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Cucurella; Caicedo, Dewsbury-Hall; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Doubtful: Nkunku (unspecified), Guiu (unspecified)

Out: Wesley Fofana (hamstring), David Fofana (knee), Kellyman (hamstring)