Jose Mourinho's Chelsea Defeats Benfica in Champions League Return

Chelsea defeated Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge, marking Jose Mourinho's fourth game back as the coach of the Portuguese club, taking over from Bruno Lage.

Benfica started well but fell behind in the 18th minute when Richard Rios scored an own goal from Alejandro Garnacho's cross. The match lacked quality, and Chelsea secured their first Champions League win of the season. Benfica's Joao Pedro received a red card in stoppage time.

Enzo Maresca's team claimed an important victory, with Mourinho expressing satisfaction with the effort despite the game not being exceptional. Mourinho highlighted the team's organization and defensive performance, acknowledging the challenge of playing with three midfielders on yellow cards.

Benfica showed promise with their attacking play but were undone by the own goal. Mourinho praised his team's stable performance and believed they could have secured a draw. Tyrique George started in the Champions League for the first time, showing potential against a strong Chelsea defense.

Chelsea's narrow win was seen as a positive result, though they were fortunate at times and have lessons to learn. Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge was eventful, with Joao Pedro receiving two yellow cards in a brief appearance. In other Champions League matches, Galatasaray beat Liverpool, Tottenham salvaged a draw, and Atletico, Marseille, and Bayern Munich secured wins.

The match at Stamford Bridge was crucial for Chelsea, with the victory marred by Joao Pedro's late red card. The Chelsea winger emphasized the team's improvement and readiness for future matches. Mourinho's animated presence on the sidelines added to the spectacle, with Chelsea securing a vital win in the league phase.