Chelsea host former boss, Jose Mourinho’s Benfica as the league phase of 2025-26 UEFA Champions League continues.
With both Chelsea and Benfica having lost their opening games of the phase, victory would lift either team into the top 20.
Team News
Facundo Buonanotte is available for Chelsea after he was ineligible to feature in their 3-1 Premier League defeat to his parent club, Brighton.
Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos however picked up knocks in that game and face late fitness checks.
Tosin Adarabioyo (calf), Wesley Fofana (concussion), Cole Palmer (groin), Levi Colwill (ACL), Dario Essugo (thigh), Liam Delap (hamstring) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) are still sidelined.
Benfica will welcome Enzo Barrenechea back from a domestic ban, which saw him miss their 2-1 Primeira Liga win over Gil Vincente.
Gianluca Prestianni (international duty), Alexander Bah and Manu Silva (both ACL)
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea host Benfica at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday 30 September at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea won their two previous UEFA Champions League meetings against Benfica (W2).
- Benfica lost 2-1 in their only previous Champions League trip to Chelsea in April 2012 (L1).
- Chelsea have won all four previous meetings against Benfica across all competitions (W4).
- Enzo Maresca’s Blues have lost one of their last seven European matches played at home (W6, L1).
- When managing a Portuguese club, Mourinho is yet to taste defeat against English opposition after Porto beat Manchester United 2-1 at home then drew 1-1 away in Round of 16 in 2003-04 edition en-route to title.
Prediction
With injuries piling up, Chelsea can’t afford for Caicedo, Santos and Pedro to be absent especially after their second-half defensive collapse after Trevoh Chalobah’s red card, which shows how vulnerable they’re at the minute when reduced to ten men.
Benfica meanwhile were careless in their 3-2 loss at home to Qarabag from 2-0 up after 16 minutes so a huge defensive improvement is needed, particularly after one clean sheet in their last six but they’re now still adapting to Jose Mourinho’s tactics after he arrived following that Qarabag defeat.
Nevertheless both teams do have their own defensive issues to sort out but they equally have strong attacking form, yet I do think that Benfica will nick this if Chelsea don’t have Caicedo and Pedro available.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-2 Benfica
Result: Chelsea 1-0 Benfica
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