Chelsea collected their first win of the Champions League league phase as they beat former manager Jose Mourinho’s Benfica 1-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Richard Rios’ own goal after 18 minutes was the difference in the first meeting between the teams since the weather-disrupted Club World Cup quarter-final in June, which the Blues won 4-1 after extra-time.
It was the 15th time Mourinho has faced Chelsea in his managerial career and his first return to south-west London since November 2020. He has now won just four of those 15.
The Portuguese made a quiet return. There was no big entrance from the tunnel before kick-off; he just took his seat, then blew a kiss to the Chelsea fans when they sung his name for the first time.
His side were industrious in the opening 15 minutes, and came close when Dodi Lukebakio’s shot from a tight angle struck the near post and had to be scrambled behind by Robert Sanchez. But, before long, they found themselves behind.
Benfica’s Richard Rios scores the crucial own goal against Chelsea
Pedro Neto’s cross was kept alive at the back post by Alejandro Garnacho, who slid the ball across the box. Rios was not the intended target, but the ball found him as he charged back, and he crashed his attempted clearance high into his own net.
Without causing any damage, Benfica were able to carve enough openings to start the ringing of alarm bells at the start of the second half. They had a half-hearted penalty appeal turned down, too, when Lukebakio and Enzo Fernandez tangled on the edge of the box.
Benfica were denied a penalty after a tangle between Dodi Lukebakio and Enzo Fernandez
In response, Enzo Maresca sent on Estevao, Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro to fight fire with fire. The trio did little to ignite the spark they were introduced to provide, though.
In fact, the latter of the three was sent off in the dying seconds; shown a second yellow for a high boot. It was the third time a Blues player has been shown a red in the last four games in all competitions. But, by then, the job was done.
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Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones:
“This was far from a classic but Maresca will not care. Chelsea are up and running in the Champions League but they need to improve in terms of their functionality.
“There’s a lack of balance in this team at the moment. Saying that, they probably have the best defensive midfielder in world football in Caicedo.
“He won the most duels of any player on the pitch (10), made the most tackles (8) and created the joint-most chances (2). He was a monster in that area, yet again.”
No disciplinary problems, insists Maresca, despite third red in four games
Joao Pedro became the third Chelsea player sent off in the last four games
Chelsea‘s Enzo Maresca speaking at his post-match press conference:
“I always like to see one-vs-one.
“The Newcastle and Flamengo red cards were for bad actions, then [Robert] Sanchez [vs Man Utd] is not for a bad action, it’s just because he wants to defend the goal, [Trevoh] Chalobah [vs Brighton] is because he wants to defend the goal.
“Tonight, for the second yellow card, I don’t think Joao [Pedro] even touched the other player, but the dynamic of the action is a dangerous one.
“For me personally, it’s not any concern or issue, it’s just a moment probably you need to take a different option and avoid. Sometimes it’s better to concede the goal or the chance because then it’s 11-v-11.”
Jose: Chelsea belong in my history and I belong to theirs
Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time since November 2020
Jose Mourinho speaking at his press conference:
“I don’t treat myself with these memories. I treat myself with victories and results.
“Of course, I thank them [the Chelsea fans], I did it on the pitch. Of course, I was focused on the game, but you have always a little bit of the sounds and of course I thanked them. When I am in London, I meet them every day on the streets, I know that it’s going to be a relationship forever.
“Hopefully, I come back here in 20 years with my grandkids. Chelsea belong to my history and I belong to their history.”
On trying to exploit a potential Chelsea weakness: “I saw (Malo) Gusto in difficulty, but then Maresca can change for a better player than Gusto in (Reece) James. And this is Chelsea’s squad that allows them to do that.”
