Chelsea Football Club gears up for a significant match against Benfica on Saturday, June 28, at 4 PM (21:00 GMT). The opening match will be held at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. This meeting is very important for Chelsea. Yet they encounter logistic hurdles, having placed second in their group during the tournament’s first round.
In their final group stage match, Chelsea earned a 2-0 win over New Zealand’s Auckland City and proceeded to defeat Germany’s Bayern Munich 3-0. The squad hit a bump in the road against Brazil’s Flamengo, where they lost by a score of 3-1. Despite their early struggles, Chelsea produced a strong fightback to win their final match in the group stage. TFC pulled off a surprising 3-0 upset over Esperance Tunis in Philadelphia. These performances have primed them nicely for their next game against Benfica, which will be a major test of their mental strength and tactical flexibility.
Logistical Headaches for Chelsea
The task of finishing second in their group has already posed a number of logistical challenges for Chelsea. After living through travel and preparation challenges the entire tournament, the team will now get ready for the knockout stage. The club’s management has been diligent in efforts to keep every member of the club properly rested. Finally, they want you all pumped up for the pivotal super-derby against Benfica.
Chelsea’s squad will feature as few as seven key players, most of whom are coming back from injury or are completing suspensions. In addition to Gallagher making his return, we should see Reece James, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella back in the lineup, too. Their respective returns will make an already strong, physical defense even better. Nicolas Jackson will be missing for a second successive match as he completes a suspension for his red card in the last match against Flamengo. That means Chelsea will have to adopt a different approach to attack with him missing.
Chelsea FC defender Wesley Fofana has joined the squad for the tournament. That being said, he is still in recovery mode from a long-term thigh injury. His likable energy and effervescence has changed the mood around Chelsea in a way that few could. He could lack the fitness required to feature in Tuesday’s crucial match against Benfica.
Historical Context and Team Form
On paper, Chelsea had a good history against Benfica, with the Blues winning every past meeting between the two clubs. This year’s matchup would be the third meeting between the two clubs. In previous matches, Fernando Torres had the limelight, netting the opener for Chelsea against Benfica. He scored his first goal of the season just before the hour mark in this legendary match.
Chelsea lifted the Club World Cup title last time out in 2021, overcoming Brazil’s Palmeiras 2-1. On top of that, they’ve won the UEFA Champions League trophy on two occasions, earning their place among Europe’s elite clubs. Chelsea’s storied history is great, but the recent terrible state of their current form will be put to a real test. They’ll be working hard to progress beyond Benfica in this season’s illustrious competition.
Romelu Lukaku and Kai Havertz were the champions league heroes for Chelsea in recent years, with both players scoring integral goals in the finals to clinch the trophy. Take powerhouse Kai Havertz’s recent extra-time winning goal in a superstar-filled EFL Cup match against Liverpool. This moment only underscored his remarkable talent for delivering through the clutch. With both players expected to start against Benfica, fans will be eager to see if they can replicate their past performances.
