Chelsea and Real Betis have come from starkly different starting points to get to Wednesday's UEFA Europa Conference League final.
Chelsea, twice Champions League winners and six times English top-flight champions, are seeking redemption in Europe's third-tier competition following a sub-par domestic campaign.
Betis, on the other hand, are eagerly anticipating their first major European final after undergoing a transformation under the astute leadership of former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Energized by Brazilian winger Antony and midfield maestro Isco, Betis are going through one of the best spells in their history and have finally managed to emerge from the shadow of city rivals Sevilla, record six-time Europa League winners, to become the team of the moment in Andalusia.
For a traditional club whose passionate fans have celebrated a Spanish league title only once -- 90 years ago -- and who have taken part in the Champions League only once -- three decades ago -- reaching the Conference League final is a dream scenario.
In contrast, playing the Conference League final could feel a bit underwhelming for big-spending Chelsea, who won the Champions League four years ago.
The Blues left it late to hit their target for this season by qualifying for the 2025-26 Champions League, thanks to a final-day victory at Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
With more than one billion pounds invested in players by the club's US owners since 2022, coach Enzo Maresca came under immediate pressure in his first season at Stamford Bridge.
A strong start saw Chelsea climb to second in the Premier League in December before a poor run -- coinciding with injuries to striker Nicolas Jackson and midfielder Romeo Lavia -- put a top-five finish in doubt until they managed to get back on track and finish fourth.
The return of Belgium midfielder Lavia helped and midfielder Moises Caicedo had a great season too, while defender Marc Cucurella has popped up at the right time on a few occasions in a season that started with him helping Spain to win the European Championship in Germany last July.
At Betis, Pellegrini has revived the careers of veteran Isco and Antony, who have become the heart and soul of this surprising, highly entertaining team.
Isco, 33 and a former Champions League winner with Real Madrid, has rekindled his form, earning LaLiga's Player of the Month award in March and prompting calls for him to be recalled to the Spanish national team.
The 25-year-old Antony, on loan from Manchester United, has also flourished, becoming the potent attacking threat Betis needed and the difference-maker the Red Devils thought they had signed for nearly 81 million pounds ($109.40 million) from Ajax in 2022.
The stage in Wroclaw, Poland, is set for a compelling final. Antony, with his blistering runs down the right channel, is expected to challenge Chelsea's defense, while the Blues will be looking for a performance that justifies their investments and secures some much-needed silverware for the under-fire Maresca.
