Chelsea vs Benfica: Champions League prediction, kick-off time, team news, TV, live stream, h2h results, odds today | OneFootball

Blues out to make amends after matchday one defeat

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Jose Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge as Chelsea host Benfica in the Champions League.

The Blues were defeated by Bayern Munich 3-1 at the Allianz Arena last time out, and were taught a harsh lesson on their return to Europe’s top table.

The Conference League holders are looking to get back to winning ways against the Primeira Liga outfit, who recently appointed Mourinho after Bruno Lage, was sacked following a shock defeat by Qarabag on matchday one.

Mourinho has already stirred the pot in the build-up to this game, calling his former club’s spending “crazy”, and remarking that they had “lost direction” for a period of time.

Enzo Maresca’s side will be keen to right the wrongs of their previous defeats, having fallen to both Manchester United and Brighton in their last two Premier League games.

Date, kick-off time and venue

Chelsea vs Benfica is scheduled for an 8pm BST kick-off today, Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

The match will take place at Stamford Bridge.

Where to watch Chelsea vs Benfica

TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports. Coverage starts at 7pm BST on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate ahead of the 8pm kick-off.

Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.

Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Dom Smith!

Chelsea vs Benfica team news

For the world champions, talisman Cole Palmer is still out with a groin injury that has been troubling him since the start of the campaign. His absence is just the tip of the iceberg, with the Blues undergoing an injury crisis, particularly at centre-back.

Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo were both ruled out of the 3-1 defeat by Brighton with concussion and a calf injury respectively, which meant that deputy left-back Jorrel Hato deputised alongside Trevoh Chalobah, who saw red.

Longer-term absentees remain Liam Delap, Dario Essugo, and Levi Colwill, although there is some positive news, with Facundo Buonanotte able to return to action after he was ineligible to face his parent club at the weekend.

In more good news, both Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro both trained on Monday, so should be available for selection.

As for Benfica, they have three injury concerns.

The first is former RB Leipzig man Bruma, the tricky Portuguese winger, who is nursing an Achilles issue, while Manu Silva and Alexander Bah are both recovering from rupturing their anterior cruciate ligaments.

Boost: Joao Pedro

Getty Images

Chelsea vs Benfica prediction

Benfica have some dangerous players that could hurt a depleted Chelsea side, but the Premier League outfit should be heavy favourites to win this.

Even without the likes of Palmer, their first-choice centre-backs, and their patchy form, they should have enough individual and collective quality to claim all three points here.

There will be added incentive to try and get one over Mourinho, too.

Chelsea to win, 3-1

Head to head (h2h) history and results

Chelsea wins: 4

Benfica wins: 0

Draws: 0

Chelsea vs Benfica match odds

Chelsea to win: 4/7

Benfica to win: 7/2

Draw: 5/2

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).