José Mourinho’s latest return to Stamford Bridge ended in disappointment as Chelsea battled to a scrappy 1-0 win over Benfica in their Champions League Group Stage encounter on Tuesday night.
The sole goal of the game came in the 18th minute, when Benfica midfielder Richard Ríos inadvertently turned Pedro Neto’s cross into his own net, giving Chelsea a vital three points after their opening-day loss to Bayern Munich.
This was Mourinho’s seventh return to the away dugout since his sacking in 2015. Although the Portuguese tactician remains a revered figure in West London, there was to be no romantic upset for his underdog side on a night charged with nostalgia.
How Chelsea Won the Match
Chelsea started brightly, with Enzo Fernández firing just wide against his former club early on.
Benfica nearly struck first when Dodi Lukebakio smashed an effort against the post after Robert Sánchez got the faintest of touches.
The breakthrough arrived shortly after. Pedro Neto swung a sweeping cross from the right, Alejandro Garnacho stretched to turn it goalwards, and the unfortunate Ríos diverted it into his own net to make it 1-0.
Benfica, led by Mourinho’s tactical discipline, sat deep and allowed Chelsea to probe. The Blues managed to unlock them just once but it was enough.
Mourinho Chants Fill the Air
It took less than two minutes for the Stamford Bridge faithful to break into chants of “José Mourinho,” a reminder of the formidable legacy he lived, indirectly tasking Enzo Maresca.
Mourinho, who won three Premier League titles across two spells (2004–07 and 2013–15), continues to command the affection of supporters.
In contrast, Maresca is still earning their trust despite having recently won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea.
Third Red Card in a Row for Chelsea
Chelsea’s young side showed flashes of promise but also disciplinary lapses that have marred their season.
Substitute João Pedro was shown a second yellow card in stoppage time for a high boot, making it three red cards in four matches for Maresca’s men.
The Italian coach named the youngest Champions League line-up in Chelsea history, with an average age of just 24 and only 42 combined Champions League appearances.
For context, this was Mourinho’s 146th Champions League game.
Maresca Pleased With Gritty Win
Chelsea head coach, Enzo Maresca admitted his side is still growing but was pleased with the result.
“We lost at Bayern but I think the team was good.”
“We played face to face there against a team that’s always been in the quarterfinals and semifinals in the last five, six or seven years,” he said.
“For us, the Champions League is a journey that started this season and hopefully game after game, we can get better.”
“We needed the win for different reasons. It was good to win tonight in any case. Sometimes you need to learn to win in an ugly way like in the last minutes of the game.”
“At least we learn how to win a game with a red card.”
Missiles, Memories and Mourinho
The match briefly halted when Benfica fans pelted Enzo Fernández with objects as he prepared to take a corner.
The Chelsea captain remains unpopular in Lisbon after his move in 2023.
Mourinho, ever the showman, even stepped in as peacemaker during the incident. Later, he theatrically entered the pitch late in stoppage time to retrieve the ball, ensuring he remained in the spotlight.
“I don’t feed myself with these memories, I feed myself with victories,” Mourinho said post-match.
Since arriving in London for the match, numerous Chelsea staff members sought out the 62-year-old for warm reunions.
Chelsea’s victory was far from convincing, but three points were non-negotiable after the Bayern loss. Benfica made life nervy, with Fredrik Aursnes missing a golden chance to equalise in the second half, while Lukebakio remained a menace throughout.
Chelsea vs Benfica: Key Stats
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Youngest Chelsea UCL starting XI ever (average age: 24)
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3 red cards in last 4 matches for Chelsea
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Richard Ríos’ own goal decided the match (18′)
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Mourinho’s 7th return to Stamford Bridge as an opponent
