| Chelsea vs Benfica | |
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MATCH INFO |
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MATCH :
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Chelsea vs Benfica
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COMPETITION :
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UEFA Champions League
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| DATE: |
01-10-2025
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TIME:
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12.30 AM IST (UTC +5:30)
11.00 PM UAE
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STADIUM
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Stamford Bridge
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Chelsea vs Benfica: Team News and Preview
Chelsea head into their midweek Champions League clash with a mix of relief and frustration. Starting with the positives, Trevoh Chalobah’s weekend red card will not affect his availability in Europe, while Facundo Buonanotte is back after missing Saturday’s game against his parent club.
However, Enzo Maresca still faces a long list of absentees. Cole Palmer (groin), Levi Colwill (knee), Liam Delap (thigh), Dario Essugo (thigh), Tosin Adarabioyo (calf) and Wesley Fofana (head) remain sidelined, while there is still no resolution to Mykhaylo Mudryk’s doping suspension.
Adding to Chelsea’s concerns, Maresca revealed in his pre-match press conference that Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos will all undergo late fitness tests after picking up knocks. If Pedro is unavailable, academy product Tyrique George could be pushed into an unfamiliar centre-forward role.
Benfica, under José Mourinho, are not at full strength either. Manu Silva and Alexander Bah continue their recoveries from ACL injuries, while winger Bruma is set to be out until 2026 with a ruptured Achilles. The Eagles are also without young talent Gianluca Prestianni, who is currently away on international duty with Argentina at the Under-20 World Cup.
Nevertheless, Benfica can still count on their in-form striker Vangelis Pavlidis, who netted both goals in the 2-0 win over Gil Vicente at the weekend and has already racked up seven goals across all competitions this season.
With both sides missing key players, this contest could hinge on which squad depth holds up better under pressure — and who takes their chances in front of goal.