Chelsea spoiled José Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge with a disciplined 1-0 win over Benfica in the UEFA Champions League, stretching the Special One’s winless managerial head-to-head against his former club to eight matches.
Unbeaten as Benfica boss going into the night, Mourinho watched his side start brightly as Robert Sánchez tipped Dodi Lukébakio’s low drive onto the base of the post. Chelsea grew into the contest and nearly struck first when Pedro Neto skimmed a bouncing effort just wide. The winger soon made amends, whipping a cross to the far post where Alejandro Garnacho steered the ball back across goal and Richard Ríos diverted into his own net. With the Blues in the ascendancy, Tyrique George latched onto a Marc Cucurella pass before half-time but could not beat Anatoliy Trubin with only his second touch in the area.
Benfica resumed on the front foot after the interval, with Fredrik Aursnes twice finding promising positions only to be flagged offside on both occasions. Clear chances were scarce, which suited Chelsea as they managed the game deep into the final twenty minutes. Mourinho’s triple substitution failed to turn the tide, and it was the hosts who went closest to adding a second when substitute Estêvão drew a firm save from Trubin with a close-range header.
Chelsea finished with ten men after João Pedro was dismissed for a second booking in stoppage time, yet they saw the match out to collect their first points of the campaign and preserve a perfect record against Benfica, now five wins from five meetings. The Portuguese side are without a victory in their last nine matches against English opposition and remain pointless in the league phase after their collapse to Qarabağ on matchday one.
