Jose Mourinho, the legendary coach, makes his anticipated return to the UEFA Champions League touchlines on Tuesday. He will lead Benfica in their second group stage match at a very familiar venue: Stamford Bridge.
His significant legacy casts a long shadow over Tuesday’s Champions League encounter, and not just because Monday’s pre-match press conferences were held in a room adorned with photographs of Chelsea’s title-winning managers and their achievements. Both Benfica and Chelsea are striving to recapture past glories, a pursuit that aligns with their current realities, even if it serves as a stark reminder of both teams’ imperfections and the high stakes of the upcoming game. Each side suffered a disappointing loss on Matchday 1, raising serious questions about their capacity for a deep run in this season’s Champions League. Tuesday`s match presents a crucial first opportunity to address these concerns, though achieving this will be easier said than done.
For both clubs, it remains uncertain whether their collective strengths are sufficient to make a significant impact in the Champions League this season. Benfica are naturally considered underdogs given the formidable power of Premier League teams compared to most other counterparts. However, Chelsea themselves have been far from impressive this season. Manager Enzo Maresca has yet to solidify the most effective attacking lineup, despite a wealth of available players. Complicating matters further, Cole Palmer will be sidelined due to a groin issue.
Here’s everything you need to know before tuning in:
How to Watch Chelsea vs. Benfica, Odds
- Date: Tuesday, September 30 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Stamford Bridge — London, England
- Live Stream: Paramount+
- Odds: Chelsea -160; Draw +300; Benfica +440
The Return of “The Special One”
While Chelsea may not be the only English club Mourinho has managed, he is most closely associated with the Blues due to his two successful spells, during which he brought numerous trophies to the club. He is expected to receive a warm welcome from the fans before Tuesday’s Champions League clash. Mourinho stated that the feeling is mutual.
“I will always be a Blue,” he declared in his pre-match press conference. “I am part of their history. They are part of my history. I helped them to become a bigger Chelsea. And they helped me to become a bigger Jose. When I say I am not a Blue, I am only speaking about the job I have to do tomorrow.”
Benfica will arrive at Stamford Bridge with relatively less pressure; the onus to win ultimately rests on Chelsea. However, what version of the team and manager Mourinho will present on Tuesday remains an intriguing question. Mourinho rejoined Benfica almost exactly 25 years after the club offered him his first managerial post. He boasts a rich Champions League history, including victories in 2004 with Porto and in 2010 with Inter. Nevertheless, his recent performances at the elite level suggest that his best days might be behind him. His last Champions League match was in March 2020, when his Tottenham Hotspur were eliminated by Julian Nagelsmann`s RB Leipzig with a 4-0 aggregate loss in the Round of 16. Yet, it`s hard not to wonder if there’s an opportunity for Mourinho to make a statement against a vulnerable Chelsea side.
The Blues concluded last season on a high note, winning the UEFA Conference League and the Club World Cup, but their form has since dipped. This season, they have secured only three wins in eight matches across all competitions, and in only one game have they managed to accumulate two non-penalty expected goals. Manager Enzo Maresca nearly implied he has more pressing concerns than Mourinho’s impending return when he was inevitably asked about it on Monday.
“It’s a privilege to face Jose,” Maresca stated. “A legend for this club. I already feel quite lucky to be in some pictures at the training ground with the Club World Cup and Conference League after one season. The goal, hopefully, is that one day we can all enjoy these kinds of moments together. … I would certainly like it one day for fans to sing my name, but that is not my primary goal. I am happy if they can sing `we’ve got our Chelsea back,` because that means as a team, we are achieving something significant.”
For the fans to truly get their Chelsea back, Maresca will likely need to finally discover the right attacking combination, which has proven more challenging than expected. Enzo Fernandez has been Chelsea`s most reliable goalscorer with three goals this season and may be counted on for another on Tuesday. Maresca could also call upon Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro. While these two have featured in the majority of Chelsea`s matches this season, their contributions have been inconsistent, highlighting the Blues` main issue: they might lack the squad depth to make a significant run in the competition, although a victory against Benfica could greatly boost their prospects.
Champions League Matchday 2 Broadcast Schedule
Tuesday, September 30 (All times U.S./Eastern)
- UEFA Champions League Matchday Overview 12:00 p.m., Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
- Chelsea vs. Benfica 3:00 p.m., Paramount+
- UEFA Champions League Today (Pre- & Post-Match Shows) 2:00 p.m. (pre) & 5:00 p.m. (post), Paramount+, CBS Sports Network / CBS Sports Golazo Network
- Other Matches 12:45 p.m. & 3:00 p.m., Paramount+ (including Atalanta vs. Club Brugge, Kirat Almaty vs. Real Madrid, Pafos vs. Bayern Munich, Inter vs. Slavia Praha, Bodo/Glimt vs. Tottenham, Galatasaray vs. Liverpool, Marseille vs. Ajax, Atletico Madrid vs. Eintracht Frankfurt)
Wednesday, October 1 (All times U.S./Eastern)
- UEFA Champions League Matchday Overview 12:00 p.m., Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo Network
- UEFA Champions League Today (Pre- & Post-Match Shows) 2:00 p.m. (pre) & 5:00 p.m. (post), Paramount+, CBS Sports Network / CBS Sports Golazo Network
- Other Matches 12:45 p.m. & 3:00 p.m., Paramount+ (including Qarabag vs. Copenhagen, Union Saint-Gilloise vs. Newcastle United, Borussia Dortmund vs. Athletic Club, Villarreal vs. Juventus, Arsenal vs. Olympiacos, Monaco vs. Manchester City, Bayer Leverkusen vs. PSV, Barcelona vs. Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli vs. Sporting Club Portugal)
