Chelsea secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over José Mourinho’s Benfica in a match that lacked the excitement expected from such a high-profile fixture. The return of Mourinho to Stamford Bridge, where he previously achieved significant success, failed to deliver much more than a display of nostalgia, with his current Benfica side struggling to make an impact.
Mourinho’s tenure at Chelsea, once defined by title-winning campaigns and tactical brilliance, feels a distant memory as he now coaches a Benfica team that lacks the cutting edge of his previous outfits. The match was less about tactical battles and more about Chelsea grinding out a necessary win. A messy own goal in the first half proved to be the difference, after a cross from Chelsea’s Pedro Neto found Alejandro Garnacho in space. Benfica defender Richard Ríos unwittingly diverted the ball into his own net, handing Chelsea the lead.
Chelsea, who have been struggling with injuries, showed signs of improvement but still appeared far from their best. Despite missing several key players, the Blues’ defense held firm, with Benoît Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah putting in solid performances at the back. Enzo Maresca, under pressure following a series of disappointing results, made several changes to his lineup, giving rare starts to players like Garnacho, Facundo Buonanotte, and Tyrique George. While these changes did offer some fresh energy, the team lacked cohesion and sharpness, something that would need to be addressed before their upcoming clash with Liverpool.
The match itself was not without its nervous moments. Chelsea initially struggled to deal with Benfica’s early pressure, with goalkeeper Robert Sánchez making a key save to deny Dodi Lukébakio’s effort from the edge of the box. Yet, as the game progressed, Chelsea’s more experienced players, like Neto and João Pedro, began to take control. Despite a late red card for João Pedro, which further depleted Chelsea’s already stretched attacking options, the home side managed to see out the win.
The performance, while not spectacular, offered a glimpse of hope for Maresca, who will now look to build on this result as Chelsea prepare for a much tougher test against Liverpool. However, questions remain over the team’s consistency and ability to step up when it matters most, particularly in defense, where suspensions and injuries are starting to take their toll. For now, though, Maresca will focus on the positives and the valuable three points, knowing there is still much work to do.
