Chelsea face Benfica at Stamford Bridge on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League. The Blues were well beaten last time, but the latest betting odds make them favourites to get off the mark. Flashscore’s Frank Monkhouse previews.
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Followers of the beautiful game have plenty to keep them occupied this midweek with the second round of matches from the UEFA Champions League. There are nine live games on Tuesday, and the same number is broadcast on television on Wednesday. You can find our overview and best bets elsewhere at Flashscore. On this page, we focus on Jose Mourinho's emotional return to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea enjoy home advantage against Portuguese Primeira Liga runners-up Benfica from 20:00 BST, live on TNT Sports. The home team were well-beaten by Bayern Munich in Germany last time, piling pressure on the Premier League side. Can the Club World Cup champions respond and collect three points on the second time of asking? Traders working at major sportsbooks certainly believe so, making Enzo Maresca's team favourites.
Flashscore's Frank Monkhouse fancies Chelsea to beat Benfica before a huge audience. Keep reading as he guides you through the stats and trends, dissects the head-to-head scores, analyses the form, and selects his best bets. Keep reading for our in-depth Chelsea vs Benfica preview and predictions.
Chelsea vs Benfica tips
Chelsea -1 handicap @ 6/4 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Blues to bounce back
Chelsea start the round sitting 28th of 36 Champions League teams. The Londoners opened with a painful lesson at the hands of Bayern Munich on matchday one at the Allianz Arena in front of 75,000 fans. Former Spurs striker and England scorer Harry Kane hit a double that night, with Cole Palmer getting a consolation for Chelsea. FCB punished a nervy-looking Blues defence, and that's something the home team must fix quickly.
Since that defeat, Chelsea have lost 2-1 at Old Trafford and beat lowly Lincoln City by the odd goal in three on Tuesday. That narrow League Cup win in midweek does little to inspire confidence in a Chelsea win, but we'll see a number of changes for the visit of Benfica. The hosts know they must win at all costs to nudge their Champions League campaign in the right direction. They must tighten up at the back and be more ruthless in attack.
September hasn't been kind to Chelsea so far. They beat League One Lincoln, but drew with Brentford, before losing to Man Utd and Bayern Munich. The performance isn't nearly as important as the result here, but I'm confident the home crowd can roar Chelsea to a win. They hammered Benfica 4-1 at the Club World Cup, albeit after extra-time, and I'm happy to stick with Chelsea, despite their mini-blip.
Tip: Chelsea to win @ 4/7 (bet365)
Bet explanation: If Chelsea beat Benfica, you'll win your bet.
Back over in the goals
Our second pick from South West London is for Chelsea vs Benfica to produce over 2.5 in the total goals market. You'll find this option on the bet365 website and mobile app. The winning team, scorers, and time of goals don't matter here. A 3-0 home win pays the same as a 2-1 away win. As long as Chelsea and Benfica score a combined three goals, you'll take home the profits. It's a bet that works well as a super single or in your midweek accumulators, alongside similar picks.
We take heart from the stats here. A bet on over 2.5 goals would've boosted your balance in two of the last three meetings. In that run that stretches back to April 2012, we've had a 2-1 win for Chelsea in London, the same scoreline at the 2013 Europa League final in Amsterdam, and a 4-1 Blues win at the Bank of America Stadium. The latter was after extra time in a rain-delayed match in North Carolina.
Moving to their domestic form, we had four goals in Chelsea's draw with Brentford, another four at the Allianz Arena, three at Old Trafford, and three in Lincoln. Switching to Benfica, there were five goals in their UCL opener, and three in an away win over AVS in the Primeira Liga. Fancy more of the same? A bet on over 2.5 goals allows you to celebrate every goal scored by the Blues and the Eagles.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 3/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: You need Chelsea vs Benfica to produce three or more goals.
Handicap offers higher odds
Our third and final bet ahead of Chelsea vs Benfica on Tuesday has the best odds attached. We're backing Chelsea to win minus a goal. You'll find that in the handicap market, where you can bet on Chelsea -1 or Benfica +1. As we're backing Chelsea -1, you need the home team to win by at least two clear goals. A Chelsea win by one goal won't do as they start -1. Maresca's men must win and do it in good style.
Landing the handicap is more challenging than the match-winner, of course, but the prizes are worth winning. A bet on Chelsea -1 landed when they beat Fulham 2-0 here, and West Ham 5-1 on the road. Keep your stakes small and trust Chelsea to get back on track with an impressive performance, eye-catching win, and vital three points.
Tip: Chelsea -1 handicap @ 6/4 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Chelsea must beat Benfica by at least two goals.
Chelsea vs Benfica odds
Discover the Best Betting Bonuses
If you're looking to take advantage of the Champions League matches for your bets, Flashscore is here to help. On our betting bonuses page, you'll find some of the best promotions and bonus codes on the market.
The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.