It’s a fresh chapter as Chelsea welcome Benfica for a rare European clash with both sides eager to ignite their campaign after opening setbacks.
The match at Stamford Bridge promises intrigue: Chelsea are seeking to bounce back from a shaky start, while Benfica arrive, under new boss Jose Mourinho, with superior recent performances but a missed opportunity to convert dominance into wins.
With both teams level on points and no historical meetings to reference, the stakes are high for a statement victory in this early group stage encounter.
Best Bets & Predictions
Based on Benfica’s attacking stats and Chelsea’s need for a response, here are our top betting recommendations for this match. We’re particularly confident in both teams to score, given Benfica’s creativity and Chelsea’s vulnerabilities at the back.
| Our Prediction | Odds & Bookmaker | Confidence | Why We’re Backing It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Both Teams to Score: Yes | 4/6 @ Betway (60.0%) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Backing because Benfica create chances (8 big chances in 5 games), Chelsea conceded 3 in their opener. Both teams scored in their opening Champions League games and this should be another attacking encounter between two sides looking for their first win the competition this season. Domestically, Chelsea have averaged 1.83 goals scored per game and conceded 1.33. |
| Over 2.5 Goals | 4/6 @ Betway (60.0%) | ⭐⭐⭐ | Value here due to Benfica’s high shot volume (73 in 5), Chelsea’s leaky defence. With both teams scoring plenty of goals (Chelsea 11 in 5, in the Premier League, Benfica 13 in 7 in Liga Portugal) but both conceding at a quick rate too, this game should be really open and the goals should flow. |
Our approach: Start with Both Teams to Score as the banker, add Over 2.5 Goals for accumulator potential.
Odds correct at the time of writing.
Chelsea vs Benfica match odds
How both teams go into Chelsea vs Benfica
Chelsea come into their match with Benfica off the back of three losses in their last four games. Their poor run of form started with a 3-1 loss against Bayern Munich in the first round of the Champions League, before a 2-1 defeat by Man Utd in an ill-tempered match. A victory over Lincoln in the League Cup followed but they were unable to build on that result, going down 3-1 to Brighton at the weekend. Chelsea need a big result here to avoid lengthening their terrible run of form.
Benfica enter this tie with only one loss to their name this season, a shock 3-2 loss to Qarabag in the first round of the Champions League. They haven’t had it all their way in Liga Portugal either, claiming disappointing draws against Santa Clara and Rio Ave. They’ve won their other five games in the league though, and come into this match on a high following a 2-1 win over Gil Vicente at the weekend.
Season Form & Standings
2025/26 season to date: Both teams find themselves winless after the opening round, but Benfica’s underlying stats (higher xG, more chances created, tighter defence) suggest they have settled better despite the identical points tally.
| Team | Pos | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benfica | 24 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 | 0 |
| Chelsea | 28 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | -2 | 0 |
Chelsea team news
There’s a bit of an injury crisis at Stamford Bridge at the moment, with Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Cole Palmer, Tosin Adarabioyo and Wesley Fofana all missing out through injury. There are also doubts over Joao Pedro, Andrey Santos, and Moises Caicedo who could all miss out with small injury problems.
Benfica team news
Benfica have five players of their own out for the meeting with Chelsea. Alexander Bah, Bruma, Nuno Felix, Manu and Gianluca Prestianni will all miss out through injury.
Head-to-Head: Last Meetings
These two sides met in the Club World Cup earlier this year, with Chelsea coming out on top after extra time. It’s been the same story in their three other meetings over the years, with the Blues coming out on top in all of those games.
| Date | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 28/06/2025 | Benfica 1-4 Chelsea | Club World Cup |
| 15/05/2025 | Benfica 1-2 Chelsea | Europa League |
| 04/04/2012 | Chelsea 2-1 Benfica | Champions League |
| 27/03/2012 | Benfica 0-1 Chelsea | Champions League |
Conclusion
With both clubs searching for their first win, will Chelsea’s home advantage and need for a response be enough to overcome Benfica’s creative edge and defensive solidity? The key may lie in which side can convert chances – and with both teams’ defensive frailties exposed so far, our top pick is Both Teams to Score at 4/6 with Betway (60.0%).
Odds correct at the time of writing. Please gamble responsibly.