Chelsea faces a familiar face on Tuesday when they host Benfica in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League.
Jose Mourinho returns at the helm of Benfica after winning two stints and multiple trophies with the Blues. After losses on the first matchday, both sides will desperately want to pick up three important points.
Find out why that’s going to lead to plenty of goals in our Chelsea vs. Benfica predictions and free betting picks for Tuesday's match.
Chelsea vs Benfica picks and predictions
My Chelsea vs Benfica best bet: Over 2.5 + Both teams to score: Yes (+100 at Sports Interaction)
It’s been an odd stretch for Chelsea. They’ve lost three of their last five matches, with the only victory in that span coming against Lincoln in the EFL Cup.
There’s been a lack of creativity at times with Cole Palmer injured, and their last two matches have seen red cards do them in, but Chelsea still possesses outstanding attacking talent.
Benfica will struggle to handle that attack. Their 3-2 loss to Qarabag saw them cough up a 2-0 lead, and led to the dismissal of manager Bruno Lage. In comes Jose Mourinho, who has overseen just one clean sheet in his first three matches in charge.
They got a 2-1 win at the weekend over a lesser Liga Portugal side, and were outplayed in large parts of the match. That won’t be good enough against Chelsea, with the likes of Joao Pedro leading the attacking line.
However, Chelsea can’t keep clean sheets, either. They’ve managed just two in eight matches, both of which came in the opening three weeks of the Premier League season. Robert Sanchez in goal has been a liability at times, and injuries at the back aren’t helping either.
Both sides have high-quality attacking talent and questions in the back. This should be an entertaining, high-scoring fixture with both teams finding the back of the net.
Chelsea vs Benfica same-game parlay (SGP)
Over 2.5
Both teams to score: Yes
Marc Cucurella 1+ shots
Georgiy Sudakov 2+ shots on target
Marc Cucurella is averaging a shot per 90 minutes in the Premier League and took one against Bayern in their opening Champions League match.
However, his likelihood of taking a shot increases with Benfica absorbing pressure, which leads to a higher corner count. In addition, Palmer’s absence will see him tucking inside more as an inverted fullback.
Georgiy Sudakov is by far the most in-form player on Benfica, with a goal or assist in three of his last four matches. He's a No. 10 who took two shots against Qarabag while notching an assist, and is averaging 2.31 shots per 90 minutes in Liga Portugal play.
Chelsea vs Benfica odds
Chelsea vs Benfica odds
| Chelsea | Benfica | |
|---|---|---|
| -155 | Moneyline | +380 |
| +310 | Draw | +310 |
| Over 2.5 (-165) | Total | Under 2.5 (+115) |
Odds courtesy of Sports Interaction.
How to watch Chelsea vs Benfica
| Location | Stamford Bridge, London, UK |
| Date | Tuesday, September 30, 2025 |
| Time | 3:00 p.m. ET |
| TV | DAZN |
| Weather | 60F, 5-10 mph winds, POP 0%. |
Chelsea vs Benfica key injuries
Chelsea: Cole Palmer M (Out), Levi Colwill D (Out), Liam Delap F (Out), Wesley Fofana D (Out), Tosin Adarabioyo D (Out), Dario Essugo M (Out).
Benfica: Manu Silva M (Out), Alexander Bah D (Out), Bruma F (Out).
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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