Chelsea and Real Betis powered through their UEFA Conference League knockout phase matches Thursday, April 17, with convincing wins that strengthened their bids for the 2025 title. Fiorentina and SK Rapid Vienna also picked up victories, keeping the race tight as the tournament’s top teams eye the May 28 final.
Chelsea crushed Legia Warszawa 3-0 in Poland, building on a 2-1 first-leg win to advance with a 5-1 aggregate. João Félix scored twice, and Marc Guiu added a late goal, sending the Blues confidently into the semifinals.
“We’re clicking,” said Chelsea coach Enzo Maresca. “This team’s hungry for silverware.”
Real Betis handled Jagiellonia Bialystok 2-0 at home, matching their first-leg score for a 4-0 aggregate romp. Goals from Pablo Fornals and Juanmi sealed it, delighting fans in Seville.
“It’s a big step,” said Betis supporter Elena Cruz outside Benito Villamarín. “We’re dreaming of that trophy.”
Fiorentina edged NK Celje 2-1 in Slovenia, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit to advance 3-2 on aggregate. Moise Kean’s header and a late own goal turned the tide, though Celje’s Luka Menalo kept it close.
“We fought hard,” said Fiorentina’s Vincenzo Italiano. “This one means a lot.”
SK Rapid Vienna blanked Djurgårdens IF 1-0 in Sweden, with Nenad Cvetković’s strike securing a 2-0 aggregate win. The result puts Rapid in the semifinals, a milestone for the Austrian side.
“Nobody expected us here,” said Rapid coach Ferdinand Feldhofer. “We’re not done yet.”
The Conference League, now in its fourth year, gives smaller clubs a shot at European glory. Its 36-team league phase, new for 2024, feeds into a knockout bracket where the top eight skip the round of 16. Chelsea, Betis, and Fiorentina, among the favorites, are proving their edge, while Rapid’s run shows the tournament’s unpredictability.
“It’s wide open,” said Mark Jensen, a London pub owner showing the matches. “Chelsea look strong, but you can’t count out the underdogs.”
Semifinal ties, set for May 1 and 8, pit:
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Chelsea or Legia against Djurgårdens or Rapid
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Betis or Jagiellonia against Celje or Fiorentina
Chelsea’s home leg may be rescheduled.
The winners get a Europa League spot next season, a prize Olympiacos claimed last year. For now, fans are locked in, waiting to see who lifts the cup in Wrocław.