Cardoso and Betis to the Conference Final

Cardoso Shines as Real Betis Advances to Historic Conference League Final

Real Betis achieved a historic milestone on Thursday night, defeating Fiorentina to advance to the UEFA Conference League Final—the first European final in the club's 118-year history. American international Johnny Cardoso played a crucial role in the victory, completing a remarkable 96% of his passes (44/46) during the full 120 minutes of play.

Though the scoreline doesn't reflect Cardoso's direct impact through goals or assists, his contributions were essential to Betis' triumph. The 23-year-old New Jersey-born midfielder hit the woodwork once from his three shot attempts and created one scoring chance for his teammates. His defensive presence was equally valuable, recording three interceptions, two blocks and four recoveries throughout the match.

Cardoso's performance continues his impressive form since joining Betis for €6 million in January 2024. Initially brought in to fill the void left by departing club icons Andrés Guardado and Guido Rodríguez, Cardoso has exceeded expectations and established himself as an indispensable figure in Manuel Pellegrini's squad.

The victory was sealed dramatically when Manchester United loanee Antony, who scored a stunning free-kick earlier in the match, set up Abde Ezzalzouli's winner in the 97th minute of extra time.

This triumph caps an impressive turnaround for Betis, who sat 11th in LaLiga in February before embarking on a remarkable run that has seen them lose just once in their last 11 league matches while simultaneously progressing through European competition.

Betis will face Chelsea in the final in Wrocław, Poland on May 28th. Meanwhile, Cardoso's stellar performances haven't gone unnoticed, with both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United reportedly monitoring the defensive midfielder. Spurs hold a €25 million purchase option on Cardoso and are reportedly planning to trigger this clause, believing his market value has already increased by approximately £10 million since the pre-agreement was reached.