The 2025/26 UCL league phase continues on Tuesday as Chelsea and Benfica will face each other in London.
Chelsea are -155 favorites on DraftKings Sportsbook for this one, with a draw available at +310. Fancy a Benfica upset? The Portuguese side are +400 on the moneyline.
Chelsea vs. Benfica Prediction, Pick
This bet can be found under the “Match Parlays” tab. Both of these sides lost their first Champions League game of the season, albeit under different circumstances. The Blues played Bayern Munich away, while Benfica faced Qarabag at home.
The result for Benfica was so bad that it caused a managerial change, and in steps former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. It is quite poetic that Mourinho’s first Champions League game in charge of Benfica will see him return to Stamford Bridge. However, storylines are just that; the real game will be played on the pitch. The reality is that even though Chelsea have had a slow start to the season, they are clearly the better team in this one.
Chelsea and Benfica met in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, where the Blues beat the Portuguese team 4-1 after extra time in the Round of 16. The game was tied 1-1 after the 90 minutes, before Chelsea scored three times in the additional period to advance comfortably to the quarter-finals. These teams faced each other another three times between 2012 and 2013, with the London side winning all three.
Chelsea dominated that game in June in terms of shots and possession, and I expect them to do the same on Tuesday. Although there are a handful of new faces on each side since that meeting a few months back, it’s largely the same core of players going against each other again. Chelsea will also be at home this time, another big advantage. Both teams conceded three goals in matchweek 1 of the Champions League, so it’s safe to say there are goals to be had in this one. Over 1.5 goals feels conservative, and hopefully the Blues can find a way to get a vital three points against a familiar face on the opposing touchline.
