Chelsea, with home advantage, was the team that took the initiative in the match. After a few minutes of being pressured by the opponent, The Blues quickly regained control of the game and were rewarded in the 18th minute.
In an attempt to block the pass, Benfica midfielder Richard Rios accidentally sent the ball into his own net, helping the Stamford Bridge team take the lead.
This was also the most notable highlight in the first half, when opportunities from Garnacho or Buonanotte were not taken advantage to double the gap.
Entering the second half, Benfica pushed up their formation and continuously created a storm. Pavlidis and Lukebakio both had dangerous shots, but the brilliance of goalkeeper Robert Sanchez helped Chelsea stand firm.
On the other hand, Pedro Neto and young talent Estevao also tried their luck many times, while goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin continuously made impressive saves.
The closer to the end of the match, the more dramatic the situation became when players from both sides did not hesitate to commit fouls to stop the opponent. Referee Daniel Siebert had to show a series of yellow cards, including warnings for Enzo Fernandez, Otamendi, Aursnes and Joao Pedro.
Even coach Jose Mourinho was given a yellow card after a strong reaction off the touchline in the extra time.
In the final minutes of the match, Benfica focused all their efforts on attack, but the haste caused the shots of Barrenechea and Ivanovic to lack accuracy. The match ended with a minimal 1-0 victory for Chelsea, on a day when the defense and goalkeeper Sanchez played excellently.
This victory brought Enzo Maresca and his team the first 3 points in this year's Champions League. However, losing the game in the final stages is still an issue Chelsea need to quickly overcome if they want to go further in the continental arena.
For Mourinho, the minimal defeat at Stamford Bridge is a reminder that the path to bring Benfica back to the winning track will be full of hardship.
