Chelsea are back in Champions League action as they welcome Benfica – now managed by Blues legend Jose Mourinho – to Stamford Bridge for a potentially-spiky encounter
It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Chelsea. Injuries, red cards, and soul-sapping defeats have left a bitter taste, with Enzo Maresca facing mounting pressure to turn the tide – and to do so quickly.
The Blues have started the new campaign sluggishly, with weary legs, undoubtedly from a punishing Club World Cup campaign that denied most of the squad a proper summer’s rest, key absences, and a lack of on-field cohesion contributing to three defeats and two draws in eight games so far.
Up next is a Champions League clash with Benfica. But what initially looked like a straightforward match has transformed into a potentially explosive, high-stakes encounter given the Portuguese club’s recent appointment of Jose Mourinho as manager – removing any reprieve Chelsea might have hoped for after challenging away trips to Bayern Munich and Manchester United, and with a testing Liverpool visit looming this weekend.
For the Conference League champions, this feels increasingly like a must-win – not just to keep their hopes of reaching the Champions League knockout stages alive, but also to salvage something from a string of underwhelming performances.
Maresca is likely to hesitate before resting key players ahead of the Liverpool game, but with rhythm and consistency in short supply, it’s hard to tell who truly counts as indispensable right now. For those wanting to follow every moment, here’s everything you need to know, courtesy of Mirror Football.
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What time is Chelsea vs Benfica?
Chelsea’s clash with Benfica takes place on Tuesday, September 30 at Stamford Bridge, London. Kick-off is set for 8pm UK time.
What channel is Chelsea vs Benfica on?
Chelsea vs Benfica will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage of the match will begin at 7pm. TNT Sports customers will be able to access the game on the Discovery+ app on their phone or tablet device to stream on the go.
They also have an official X account which will show snippets of the best of the action, including any goals, as well as a YouTube channel which will show the highlights of the match later in the evening.
What’s the Chelsea team news?
Chelsea will be without several key players for the tie, including Cole Palmer, who is sidelined with a groin injury. Maresca has confirmed that the talismanic midfielder won’t return until after the upcoming international break, though fears he may require surgery have been eased.
Levi Colwill and Liam Delap are also out, facing lengthy spells on the sidelines with ACL and hamstring injuries respectively. Adding to Chelsea’s defensive woes, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo are expected to miss the game after both recently suffered calf problems.
The good news is that Trevoh Chalobah, sent off against Brighton on Saturday, is now available – though he will miss the upcoming clash with Liverpool, adding further pressure on Fofana and Adarabioyo’s recovery.
Summer signing Dario Essugo, who suffered a thigh injury earlier this month, is also set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, leaving Moises Caicedo with little opportunity to rest. Romeo Lavia’s return at the weekend, however, could provide some much-needed relief, but after spending so much time on the treatment table, Chelsea are unlikely to rush him back.
How have Chelsea fared against Benfica in the past?
Chelsea have a 100 per cent competitive record against Benfica, with four wins from four encounters. Their most recent meeting came at the Club World Cup this summer, with the Blues emerging 4-1 victors after extra time in the round of 16.
Prior to that, Chelsea beat 2-1 Benfica in the 2013 Europa League final, with Branislav Ivanovic netting an injury time winner. The season before, they eliminated Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals on their way to the club’s historic 2012 triumph, winning 3-1 on aggregate.
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Watch Amazon’s Champions League coverage free
Prime Video is broadcasting one UEFA Champions League fixture every gameweek free for Amazon Prime members or those signing up for a 30-day free trial.
