Chelsea Secures First Champions League Win of Season with Narrow Victory Over Benfica
Chelsea secured their first Champions League win of the season with a narrow 1-0 victory over Benfica, thanks to an early own goal by Richard Rios. The match was marred by a late red card for substitute Joao Pedro, Chelsea's third in four games. Meanwhile, former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge, receiving a warm welcome from the fans despite managing their rivals previously.
The game started poorly for Benfica, with Richard Rios inadvertently putting the ball into his own net in the 18th minute. This proved to be the winning goal for Chelsea. Despite the setback, Benfica put up a solid display but couldn't find an equaliser.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who has led the team to wins in the Conference League and Club World Cup, acknowledged the significance of the victory. He admitted that some players were not fully fit but played due to Chelsea's injury crisis. Maresca's future at Chelsea is set to be evaluated at the end of the current season.
Mourinho, who managed Chelsea twice and won seven major trophies, returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time since his second sacking by Roman Abramovich. Despite managing Chelsea's rivals in the past, he received an affectionate welcome from the fans. However, he ended the match frustrated that Benfica couldn't turn their solid display into a victory.
Chelsea's win over Benfica was hard-fought and came at a cost, with Joao Pedro's late red card. Maresca's Chelsea has now won three major trophies under his leadership, with his future at the club to be decided at season's end. Meanwhile, Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge was a nostalgic affair, with the fans welcoming him back despite his past with rival clubs.
