Can Chelsea finally crack the Spanish code? | OneFootball

Chelsea have a shot at making a bit of history as they go up against Real Betis in the Conference League, aiming to become the first club ever to win four different major UEFA competitions.

They’ve already lifted the Cup Winners' Cup (in 1971 and 1998), the Champions League (2012 and 2021), and the Europa League (2013 and 2019). A Conference League title would complete a rather unique set - something no club has managed before.

However, they’ll be up against not just Betis, but a staggering record held by Spanish sides in major finals.

Since 2002, Spanish men’s teams have been involved in 27 major finals across the Champions League, Europa League, World Cup and Euros, and each one has ended with a Spanish winner. That includes both club and national teams.

Now, it’s not that Spanish sides haven’t lost in that period - they have, but only ever to other Spanish teams. Four of those finals were all-Spanish affairs too, such as the Madrid derbies in the Champions League in 2014 and 2016, Sevilla v Espanyol in 2007, and Atlético de Madrid v Athletic Bilbao in 2012 in the Europa League.

You have to go all the way back to 2001 to find the last time a non-Spanish team beat a Spanish one in a major final. That year, Liverpool edged out Alavés 5-4 in a wild UEFA Cup final, thanks to a golden own goal in extra time. Just a few days later, Valencia lost on penalties to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.

So, will Chelsea finally put an end to Spain’s long-running dominance in Europe? Or will Betis help keep that remarkable streak going?

Spanish 27-game unbeaten streak: