Stamford Bridge will stage a crucial Champions League group clash on Tuesday night as Chelsea host Benfica. Both sides head into the encounter under pressure after opening-round defeats.

Chelsea suffered a 3-1 setback away to Bayern Munich, while Benfica were edged 3-2 at home by Qarabag, leaving both clubs desperate to secure their first points of the campaign.

Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea project is still taking shape, with the Blues managing only three wins from their first eight matches across all competitions, alongside two draws and three losses. Their numbers show promise, with an xPTS of 8.7 in the Premier League, but defensive vulnerabilities remain a major concern. With just two clean sheets and 22 cards already accumulated this season, discipline and structure have been weak points. Maresca continues to push a possession-based philosophy, but results have yet to fully align with his vision.