Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge

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Own goal decides the match

The match’s solitary goal emerged from an unfortunate own goal by Richard Rios. The error occurred in the 18th minute when a misjudged clearance saw the ball land in Benfica’s net. This was the first clash between Chelsea and Benfica since their tightly contested encounter in June.

Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge

José Mourinho, a prominent figure in Chelsea’s history, was back at Stamford Bridge for the first time since late 2020. Despite his storied past with the club, he found it challenging to lead his current team, Benfica, to victory against the Blues in this encounter.

Match highlights

Early signs showed promise for Benfica, with Dodi Lukebakio’s shot hitting the post. Their momentum was halted when Pedro Neto’s cross accidentally led Rios to score an own goal. Despite persistent attacking attempts by Benfica, Chelsea maintained their lead.

Second half developments

As the match progressed, an appeal for a penalty came after a collision involving Lukebakio and Enzo Fernandez, but it was dismissed. Chelsea made changes to fortify their defense, yet faced a setback when Joao Pedro was sent off with a red card. Nonetheless, they managed to preserve their lead till the game’s conclusion.