The Chelsea vs Benfica clash will be one of the standout fixtures of the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, September 30, when the two sides meet at Stamford Bridge in what should be a tense and intriguing encounter under the lights in London.
Chelsea are still searching for consistency in their performances and see this as an opportunity to get back on track in Europe. But they’ll face a Benfica team now under the guidance of Jose Mourinho, who is returning to Stamford Bridge with plenty of motivation and experience to frustrate his old club.
Match Details
Stamford Bridge
London, England
30 September
Kickoff 20:00 PM BST
An Emotional Return for Jose Mourinho
The Chelsea vs Benfica match carries extra weight because of the presence of Jose Mourinho in the visitors’ dugout.
The Portuguese tactician, who famously won three Premier League titles with Chelsea across two spells, is back at Stamford Bridge for the first time in years – this time in charge of Benfica.
The narrative writes itself: Mourinho knows the Bridge inside out and thrives in these kinds of high-pressure nights. Benfica are a tricky opponent for Chelsea, even if they are also still finding their rhythm in this Champions League campaign.
Can Joao Pedro Prove His Price In Europe?
Joao Pedro is one of Chelsea’s biggest signings of the summer and has shown glimpses of the quality that convinced the club to spend heavily for him.
The Brazilian forward’s hold-up play and movement will be crucial in Chelsea’s second Champions League game of the season. For Pedro, he is chasing consistency and proving himself in Europe’s most prestigious competition, and with Cole Palmer’s absence, this game could be the key to his development at Chelsea.
That said, Pedro picked up a knock in the recent loss to Brighton, and his fitness is being assessed ahead of the fixture – his availability could shape Chelsea’s attacking plan, especially considering existing injuries.
Can Chelsea Patch Their Defence?
Chelsea’s central defence is stretched thin with Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana all sidelined, leaving Trevoh Chalobah and Benoit Badiashile under pressure to hold the line.
At full-back, Malo Gusto’s discipline and form will be tested against Benfica’s counters, while goalkeeper Robert Sanchez – criticised for recent errors – must stay composed on a night when mistakes could prove costly.
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Chelsea vs Benfica Injuries
Chelsea injuries: Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill, Liam, Delap, Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Dario Essugo, Joao Pedro (to be assessed), Moises Caicedo (to be assessed), Andrey Santos (to be assessed)
Benfica injuries: Alexander Bah, Manu Silva, Bruma, Gianluca Prestianni
Chelsea vs Benfica Predicted Lineups
Knowing the importance of this match, both Enzo Maresca and Jose Mourinho are likely to try to field strong XIs where possible – but fitness doubts mean the managers may have to tinker.
Here, we look at the Chelsea vs Benfica predicted lineups:
Chelsea XI: Robert Sanchez, Marc Cucurella, Jarrel Hato, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto, Estevao, Joao Pedro
Benfica XI: Anatoliy Trubin, Samuel Dahl, Nicolas Otamendi, Antonio Silva, Amar Dedic, Richard Rios, Enzo Barrenechea, Fredrik Aursnes, Georgiy Sudakov, Andreas Schjelderup, Vangelis Pavlidis
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Crystal Pix
Recording Date: 29.09.2025