Chelsea vs Benfica live: Hosts cling on to win Champions League clash with Joao Pedro sent off on Jose Mourinho’s return | OneFootball

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Sometimes you need to win ugly - Maresca after Benfica win

Jose Mourinho was left empty-handed on his return to Stamford Bridge as his Benfica side suffered a tight 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League.

Richard Rios found himself in the wrong place as Alejandro Garnacho crossed into the box early in the first half, the ball deflecting off him and into his own net, and that proved the difference in an often scrappy game.

Benfica were often the better side but could not find a way past Enzo Maresca’s men, who went down to 10 for the third straight game as Joao Pedro - on as a second-half substitute - was brandished with a second yellow for a high boot in stoppage time. He will miss the Blues’ next European fixture against Ajax.

Mourinho, who won three Premier League titles across two stints in west London earlier in his career, received a warm reception at Stamford Bridge but was predictably the centre of some drama himself, receiving a yellow for protesting a foul his side were not awarded in the second half.

'We can win with 10 players' - Enzo Maresca

Enzo Maresca tells TNT Sports: “The effort was very good. First half I think we were better compared to the second half in the way we managed the ball and created chances. Second half we dropped.

“In the last two three games we have conceded two, three goals and it's not possible to do that. We need to be better defensively but a clean sheet is nice.”

On Joao Pedro's red card, he says: “A good thing is we are improving and we can win with 10 players. But I think he did not touch on the second one but the dynamic of it is that it was dangerous.

“For us it is a journey that started this season and game after game, we get better.”