Can Isco Lead Betis to Victory in the Conference League Final?

It has been 12 years since Malaga finished atop their UEFA Champions League group, ahead of Milan, Zenit and Anderlecht, and advanced past Porto before narrowly losing to eventual finalists Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals. They did so with Manuel Pellegrini as their manager, whilst Isco led the charge as the team’s attacking midfielder.

Today, Malaga are consigned to the Spanish second division, but as for Isco, he’s still going strong at the age of 33 and working his magic alongside Pellegrini at Real Betis. After joining Real Madrid in 2013, Isco won three LaLiga titles and five UEFA Champions League titles before departing for Sevilla in 2022. However, he left the club after just a couple of months after falling out with sporting director Monchi, spending a few months as a free agent before making the move to Sevilla’s local rivals Betis.

Working alongside his former manager, Isco delivered a superb season for Betis, who finished seventh and qualified for the UEFA Conference League. Isco won the most Man of the Match awards (19) in 2023/24, and he’s built on that momentum and emerged as an indispensable attacking midfielder for Los Verdiblancos. Since being awarded the LaLiga Player of the Month for March 2025 (having previously done so in April 2024), Isco has chipped in with a goal and assist against Girona and a goal against Real Valladolid.

After assisting Giovani Lo Celso’s equalizer in a come-from-behind 2-1 victory at Espanyol, Isco proved essential as Betis defended their first-leg advantage and held off Fiorentina — who were seeking a third straight trip to the Conference League Final. Isco completed 4 tackles, won 9 out of 19 ground duels, completed 8 out of 8 long balls, and also executed 7 key passes to secure Betis’ spot in the final.

Isco would follow that up with an assist vs. Osasuna and a penalty goal at Rayo Vallecano before being kept under wraps in a 4-1 loss to Atletico Madrid, but he would bounce back by assisting Antony’s opener as Betis finished sixth in the league. The most important match of Isco’s tenure at Betis, however, will come on Wednesday, as Betis get set to face off against Chelsea in the Conference League Final in Wroclaw, Poland.

Having won seven of their last eight matches en route to a fifth-place finish and automatic Champions League qualification, the soccer betting odds are in Chelsea’s favor as they look to add yet another European trophy to their cabinet. Betis, meanwhile, will be playing in their first-ever European final, and in order to defeat Enzo Maresca’s side, they’ll need their prized playmaker to be at his very best.

Isco doesn’t need another title to assert his status as one of the best attacking midfielders of his generation — his record already speaks for itself. He’s someone who has the skillset and grace to glide around the pitch, saunter out of pressure, and come away with the ball glued to his feet. He’s someone who puts the spectator at the edge of their seat, who turns soccer into a work of art, and who reminds the world why soccer is the most popular sport on the planet.

He will continue to be a joy to watch for as long as he continues lacing up his boots, who thrives at dribbling from one box to the other and manufacturing golden opportunities. He’s already etched his name into the history books for Real Madrid and Malaga, and on Wednesday, he has the chance to stake his name as a legend of Real Betis by delivering them to European glory.