A first half own goal was enough for Chelsea to claim a UEFA Champions League win over Jose Mourinho’s Benfica on Tuesday at Stamford Bridge.
The win is a relief for Enzo Maresca and his Blues; Chelsea have won just once in their last five matches across all competitions — a too-close League Cup match with minnows Lincoln City — and lost their UCL opener 3-1 at Bayern Munich.
MORE — Champions League schedule | Champions League table
Mourinho was just appointed earlier this month after Bruno Lage oversaw a home Champions League disappointment versus Qarabag, but his methods have already produced a challenging away unit.
Benfica out-attempted Chelsea 9-8, while the hosts had 56% of the ball and a 0.93-0.86 xG advantage.
Chelsea forward Joao Pedro entered the game in the 61st minute and collected a pair of yellow cards by the conclusion of stoppage time and faces a suspension.
Blues get by without key ingredients
Nineteen-year-old Tyrique George was not the problem — far from it, actually — but the young Chelsea center forward was denied a goal just before halftime in a play that felt emblematic for the game. Without Cole Palmer and Liam Delap — and with Joao Pedro starting the game on the bench — Chelsea created chances but did not finish them. It’s even a bit fitting that their goal came when Alejandro Garnacho’s recycled cross cannoned off Benfica’s Richard Rios and into their goal. The best efforts of Enzo Fernandez and Pedro Neto were strong but that “special sauce” often on display when Palmer is fit and firing was loud in its absence. Enzo Maresca can feel happy with the win, and we’re sure he perks up whenever there’s an update from his medical team — Chelsea need to get healthy.
What’s next?
Benfica face Porto in the league and Chaves in the Taca de Portugal before an Oct. 21 visit to Newcastle United in the UEFA Champions League.
Chelsea host Liverpool at 12:30pm ET Saturday, then stay in the Premier League to visit Nottingham Forest before the UCL returns with Ajax heading to Stamford Bridge on October 22.
Chelsea vs Benfica final score: 1-0
Richard Rios o.g. 18'
Chelsea vs Benfica LIVE updates — by Nick Mendola
Joao Pedro red card
The Brazilian sees his second yellow of the match despite being in the game for all of a half hour.
Chelsea sub
Malo Gusto exits in favor of Reece James, and Josh Acheampong has overcome his weekend illness and will take the place of Benoit Badiashile.
81st minute.
Benfica change four
Antonio Silva is the first Benfica change due to injury, as Tomas Araujo takes his place.
But Mourinho readies three more, as Dodi Lukebakio, Georgiy Sudakov, and the yellow-bearing Rios exit for Leandro Barreiro, Franjo Ivanovic, and Andreas Schjelderup.
1-0 Chelsea into the 79th minute.
Chelsea subs
Buonanotte, who is on yellow, exits in favor of Estevao Willian in the 54th minute.
Soon after, Garnacho and George depart for Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens.
Benfica better in second half
The Portuguese visitors are playing well in the second frame, though they’ve struggled with the offside flag.
Halftime — Chelsea 1-0 Benfica
Tyrique George nearly makes it 2-0 just before halftime, but otherwise this is about what you’d expect from a Mourinho side hoping to keep things tight.
Shot attempts end 5-4 to Chelsea, who kept 66% possession but lost the xG scrap 0.56-0.26.
Enzo Fernandez picked up a yellow card in the 45th minute and will have to walk the line.
Even apart from the o.g.
Chelsea have had 65% of the ball but Benfica are very much hanging around, comfortable with the counterattacking plan of new Benfica boss Jose Mourinho.
Richard Rios own goal — Chelsea 1-0 Benfica
Pedro Neto swirls a cross to the back post, where Alejandro Garnacho sends it toward the spot.
It’s rockets off Richard Rios and into the Benfica goal.
Stamford Bridge sings for Jose Mourinho
José Mourinho receives a warm welcome back at Stamford Bridge 💙 pic.twitter.com/zVMWY3Uytv
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) September 30, 2025
Chelsea lineup
Sanchez, Cucurella, Badiashile, Chalobah, Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Buonanotte, Garnacho, Neto, George
Benfica lineup
Trubin, Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl, Rios, Barrenecha, Lukebakio, Aursnes, Sudakov, Pavlidis
Chelsea vs Benfica preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Mourinho took charge of Benfica less than two weeks ago after Bruno Lage was fired following Benfica’s shock 3-2 home defeat in the Champions League to Qarabag, as the Portuguese giants led 2-0 but then collapsed. Mourinho is tasked with winning the Portuguese title ahead of bitter rivals FC Porto (who they travel to on Sunday) and Sporting Lisbon and even though Benfica have some wonderful individual talents, Mourinho’s task back in his homeland is a tough one. But this is Mourinho. He loves a challenge.
Mourinho is expected to get a warm reception back at Chelsea on Tuesday, despite managing their bitter rivals Spurs a few years ago. He delivered trophies galore during his two spells in charge of Chelsea but couldn’t lead them to Champions League glory. That is now Enzo Maresca’s task and the Italian coach is under pressure after suffering three defeats in a week, including a shock home defeat to Brighton at the weekend. After losing 3-1 at Bayern Munich in their opening Champions League game Maresca and Chelsea badly need to beat Benfica and they just need to keep 11 players on the pitch as red cards keep costing them dear.
Chelsea team news, focus
The injuries are stacking up for Chelsea as Cole Palmer is struggling to shake off his injury issues, while there are so many other injury problems for Maresca as his side look shaky defensively too. Also, Moises Caicedo, Joao Pedro and Andrey Santos are all being assessed after picking up injuries in the defeat against Brighton. All of these injuries and mistakes early in the season may be down to their big summer in the USA winning the Club World Cup. Chelsea have a few tough games coming up in the Champions League with Napoli, Atalanta and Barcelona still to come, so they really need to beat Benfica at home to put themselves in a good position to make the knockout rounds. The pressure is on.
Benfica team news, focus
Mourinho has two wins and a draw in his first three games in charge as Benfica are only one point behind league-leaders Porto ahead of their clash at the weekend. Benfica will play a solid 4-2-3-1 formation and Vangelis Pavlidis is their talisman up top. Sudakov, Ludebakio and Schjelderup will support Pavlidis in attack and there is a nice balance about Benfica. Mourinho must improve them defensively and veteran center back Nicolas Otamendi is mentoring talented young center back Andre Silva.
Chelsea vs Benfica prediction
This feels like Mourinho will thrive in playing the role of spoiler (as always) and he’s playing Chelsea at a good time. Chelsea 1-1 Benfica.
