The Stats Zone
FIFA World Cup UEFA Women's Champions League English Premier League French Ligue 1 Spanish Primera German Bundesliga Italian Serie A Saudi Pro League Australian A-League Indian Super League American MLS English Championship Austrian Cup UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League UEFA Conference League CONCACAF Champions Cup English FA Cup AFC Champions League Elite CAF Champions League Dutch KNVB Cup World Cup Qualifiers FIFA Series Other Internationals English League One English League Two Copa del Rey Coupe de France Coppa Italia German DFB-Pokal Carabao Cup Recopa Sudamericana Copa Libertadores Taca de Portugal UEFA Super Cup CONCACAF Leagues Cup

Chelsea vs Benfica Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase

by Alex Lawes · September 29 2025, 11:09
Updated September 29 2025, 17:48
Chelsea vs Benfica Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase

Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

Chelsea and Benfica have played out some thrillers in Europe in the past and now the latest meeting is at Stamford Bridge in the UEFA Champions League this weekend.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Paramount+

Chelsea team news

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Badiashile, Cucurella; Lavia, Caicedo; Estevao, Fernandez, Neto; Garnacho

Unavailable: Adarabioyo (Injured), Colwill (Injured), Delap (Injured), Fofana (Injured), Palmer (Injured)

Questionable: Caicedo (Injured), Joao Pedro (Injured), Santos (Injured)

Benfica team news

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Dedic, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Barrenechea, Rios; Aursnes, Sudakov, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Unavailable: Bah (Injured), Bruma (Injured), Manu (Injured)

Questionable:

Chelsea vs Benfica prediction

Enzo Maresca simply has to be feeling a bit of pressure once again, despite a strong end to last season and their success at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Chelsea have been underwhelming at the start of this season and that was shown in their 3-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League a couple of weeks ago.

They now face a Benfica side that, under the management of Jose Mourinho, started the Mourinho era with a couple of underwhelming performances and results. The reason for Mourinho’s appointment is because Bruno Lage was sacked as a result of a 3-2 loss to Qarabag in Lisbon in their UEFA Champions League opener.

Benfica head to Stamford Bridge for what is a Jose Mourinho derby, but his magic spark is long gone, and the hosts, despite their issues, should get themselves a victory in west London.

Chelsea vs Benfica Tip: Chelsea to win

Football Latest