Under the bright lights of Stamford Bridge, Chelsea eked out a narrow 1-0 victory over a resolute Benfica side, consigning José Mourinho’s first return to the Bridge in a managerial role to bitter frustration.
The result, built on a scrambled own goal and defensive grit, offered Enzo Maresca’s side a dose of much-needed confidence in their Champions League campaign.
Chelsea began the match with energy and attacking ambition, and it was one of their wing options, Pedro Neto, who sparked the defining move. Driving inside from the right flank, Neto unleashed a low drive just past the post that drew defenders toward him.
A minute later he adjusted for a cross intended for Alejandro Garnacho, who flicked it across the six-yard box.
In their rush to intervene, Benfica defender Richard Rios diverted the ball into his own net in the eighteenth minute, handing Chelsea the vital lead. The goal was not the result of a devastating finish, but of persistence at the edge of danger and a moment of misfortune for Benfica.
Benfica had threatened early on. Dodi Lukebakio’s effort was deflected onto the post and cleared, while their buildup play tested Chelsea’s backline and forced goalkeeper Robert Sánchez into alert intervention. But as the clock ticked past the first quarter, Chelsea appeared to settle into the lead with growing assurance.
A big three points! #CFC | #UCL pic.twitter.com/E9ozLtzcmn
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 30, 2025
In the second half, Benfica endeavored to find a response. Their attacks, however, were often thwarted by tight offside calls or by timely saves from Sánchez. On more than one occasion, danger seemed to brew, but the flag denied a breakthrough.
As Chelsea attempted to capitalize on their advantage, the match turned scrappy: transitions grew sharper, the midfield battle intensified, and clear-cut chances dwindled. Maresca brought on Estevao, Jamie Gittens, and João Pedro in pursuit of breathing life into their attacking thrust—but none quite altered the balance decisively.
Late into stoppage time, chaos struck: substitute João Pedro was shown a second yellow card for a high boot, reducing Chelsea to ten men. Yet by that point the defensive line had held firm, and Benfica lacked the cutting edge to exploit the numerical advantage. The final whistle confirmed Chelsea’s slender win—and that Mourinho’s emotional return would end with more memories than points.
The match had more than just a result—it had narrative. The return of Mourinho to Stamford Bridge carried weight. Once Chelsea’s most celebrated manager, now in charge of Benfica, he received a warm reception from the home crowd as they chanted his name before kick-off. But the reception did not translate into tactical ascendancy.
Mourinho’s Benfica never truly broke Chelsea’s resolve, and the ex-Blue would leave without a victory in his homecoming.
Yet the storyline extended beyond tactics. Enzo Fernández, a high-profile Chelsea signing who left Benfica amid controversy, endured a hostile reception from away fans. As he approached to take a corner kick in front of the Benfica end, he was pelted with objects.
Intriguingly, Mourinho himself walked down the touchline to calm the crowd—an image laden with historical irony: the man once taunted by opposition fans now pleading for restraint against his current side’s supporters.
For Chelsea, the win marks their first in this edition of the Champions League, a necessary step after a rocky start. The defensive rearguard, marshalled by Chalobah and Badiashile, gave little away. Sánchez, too, had little to do at times, but when called upon he remained steady.
On the wings, Neto and Garnacho were consistent threats, the latter’s involvement in the goal underlining the value of his deployment on the left flank. The midfield, led by Fernández, held composure under pressure, offering cover and initiative as Benfica pushed.
However, it would be remiss not to note Chelsea’s admitted lack of spark in large phases of the game. After the opening goal they often appeared toothless going forward. Between the final third and the penalty area, combinations failed to penetrate.
Their substitutions had limited impact in shifting momentum, and Benfica, though failing to deliver a breakthrough, were not shut out of the contest tactically. In the end, the fragility of the lead required defensive resolve.
Benfica, too, leave with questions. Their opening exchange in search of an aggressive tempo stuttered after the early setback. They had spells when they threatened to turn the screw, but consistency eluded them. Their buildup lacked penetrating variation, their attacks often stifled before reaching the danger zone.
Coaching adjustments failed to unlock the defense in key phases. Even the introduction of attacking legs like João Pedro came too late to change the course. Mourinho’s early days in charge remain under scrutiny: style, squad cohesion, and how to extract better from those beneath him.
This result lifts Chelsea’s spirits and places them in a stronger psychological position in their group. They now know they can scrape results even when not at their fluent best. But Maresca will want more: sharper attacking patterns, improved control in the midfield, and better finishing in future matches.
The red card also brings complications—João Pedro’s suspension will test the squad’s depth in the next fixture. Benfica, meanwhile, must regroup. This match will be seen as a missed opportunity to deliver a statement result, especially under the gaze of a homecoming manager. They must show more.