Chelsea 1-0 Benfica (Sep 30, 2025) Game Analysis - ESPN
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Chelsea 1-0 Benfica (Sep 30, 2025) Game Analysis - ESPN
"Jose Mourinho's Stamford Bridge homecoming ended in defeat as Chelsea got their Champions League season going at the second attempt with a 1-0 win over Benfica. It was the seventh time since his sacking in 2015 that the three-time Premier League winner had returned to sit in the away dugout but there was to be no fairytale for his underdogs, an own goal from midfielder Richard Ríos after 18 minutes the difference."
"Enzo Maresca's side had been been outclassed despite a brave, ambitious showing in losing to Bayern Munich in their opening game but Mourinho's visitors posed a different challenge, sitting deep and challenging the home side to pick through them. They managed it just once but decisively, Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho the goal's twin architects -- one with a cross, the other with a brilliant sliding reach, and the unfortunate Ríos did the rest."
Benfica won 1-0 at Stamford Bridge after an 18th-minute own goal by midfielder Richard Ríos. Chelsea sat deep, invited the home side to work the ball through and conceded from a move created by Pedro Neto's cross and Alejandro Garnacho's sliding reach. Mourinho returned to the away dugout for the seventh time since his 2015 sacking. The match featured early chants of 'Jose Mourinho' and exposed Chelsea's defensive discipline issues. Joao Pedro received a second yellow in stoppage time, completing Chelsea's third red in four matches. Attacking efforts included Enzo Fernández and Dodi Lukebakio testing goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
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