Chelsea
30 Sep, 2025
21:00
Benfica
Chelsea without Palmer are simply not the same side. They struggle to create clear attacking chances, and defensive lapses too often lead directly to goals conceded.
The Blues need to tidy this up quickly, especially after already dropping points in their opening match against Bayern Munich.
Their next challenge comes against Benfica, a team that has shown inconsistency in their domestic league, scraping past lower-ranked sides like Gil Vicente and Rio Ave. Under Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese
What we say
Chelsea to Win
Chelsea will be determined to end their negative run of results. They already faced Benfica in pre-season and managed to overcome them, which should give confidence.
It won’t be straightforward Benfica are likely to sit deep and defend, but that could actually play into Chelsea’s hands, as they struggle more when pressed high up the pitch.
With the return of Champions League football to Stamford Bridge after several years away, the atmosphere and motivation should be enough to inspire Chelsea to secure a vital victory here.