Live Commentary
Last Updated at 9:57 pm, March 27th 2012
-
Steven Walsh says: "Some Chelsea fans who made comments before the game will be eating there words now! RDM is the man for the job!"
-
Matthew says: "Fernando Torres is just amazing. Assisted the goal and destroyed the defence!!"
-
90 + 5
FULL-TIME: BENFICA 0 CHELSEA 1
-
83
Chelsea make a change of their own. Goalscorer Kalou, who had a good game, is replaced by Daniel Sturridge.
-
82
Javi Garcia heads off for Benfica and Nolito comes on.
-
80
Ferreira comes back on at a Benfica corner, but is then immediately replaced by Bosingwa. Chelsea head clear the corner at the near post.
-
75
GOAL KALOU (0-1)!!!
-
70
Benfica make a double change. Aimar and Cesar are replaced by former Chelsea player Matic and ex-Bolton man Rodrigo.
-
69
Chelsea replace Meireles with Lampard
-
68
Chelsea then break forward and Ramires wins a free-kick just over the halfway line for a blatant foul from Luisao, which earns the Benfica captain a booking.
-
Mike Harling says: "Fair do's to RDM and the boys, decent first half performance. Keep it up for the second half chaps!"
-
45
HALF-TIME: BENFICA 0 CHELSEA 0
-
25
Mata spreads the ball from left to right and Ferreira then wins a free-kick from Bruno Cesar close to the corner flag. Bruno Cesar is booked.
-
19
Gaitan goes past Meireles and the Chelsea midfielder produces a cynical trip to go in the book..
-
19.34
Charlie Goldie says: "I'm surprised that Di Matteo has put Drogba and Lampard on the bench, I would definitely have had them starting. It looks an interesting game, I do think Chelsea will win, but not easily, I'm sure it will be very close, plus Benfica will be looking to take the home advantage, but I think Chelsea will edge them out, I'm going for Benfica 1 - 2 Chelsea."
-
19.31
Brian Crowe says: "Bad selection tonight from RDM. I would definitely have played Lampard and Essien. For some reason, I don't know why, Chelsea have not started Daniel Sturridge for the last three games... Hoping for a 1-1 or 2-1 win to Chelsea."
-
19.28
Thomas Joseph says: With this line-up, it looks like Chelsea want to take this fixture down to the wire again, when they should be looking to kill the tie with away goals. Maybe Di Matteo, like AVB, is a glutton for punishment."
-
19.24
Bill McDonald says: "Have to agree with the comments on the team selection for tonight. Mikel, Meireles and Kalou, would not get on my bench, let alone first 11. We already have a lack of quality and playmakers in the side, this makes no sense at all. Ferreira hardly plays at all these days, so why not put Luiz at right-back and have Cahill alongside Terry."
-
19.18
Adam Thompson says: "Hard one to call but I actually think Torres could score tonight, going to say 2 - 1 to Chelsea."
-
19.14
Frank Martell says: "Di Matteo playing a dangerous game here. Based on the fact this is the last Champions League to be won with our core guys, I'd have expected them to play a strong game today, even if they looked a little tired at the weekend. Drogba and Essien could use a break, but not today. Di Matteo can't afford to estrange the side with just a few weeks left to climb into 4th and I'm afraid he's sold the big boys short. Drogba for Kalou, and Lamps for Meireles makes it a side I trust, even with Torres and Mikel left in the starting 11."
-
19.13
Mike Harling says: "I'm a CFC season ticket holder, have been a fan for 42 years. All I can say is that Di Matteo is obviously concentrating Chelsea's efforts on the FA Cup! Really poor selection, RDM!"
-
19.06
Petar Mitrovic says via Twitter: Team selection is just unbelievable!! We have to win! If it works out, then well done to RDM. But if not, then bye bye to RDM!!"
-
19.05
Duncan Dymond says: Awful selection. Mereiles and Mikel both too slow and likely to give ball away in midfield, putting pressure on our back four instead of relieving it. I can't see how we can play with pace on the break. Prefer Ferreira to Bosingwa, though, in absence of Ivanovic.
Matches
-
UEFA Champions League
Tables
UEFA Champions League Group A
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paris St Germain | 6 | 15 |
| 2 | FC Porto | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | Dynamo Kiev | 6 | 5 |
| 4 | Dinamo Zagreb | 6 | 1 |
UEFA Champions League Group B
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Schalke | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Olympiakos FC | 6 | 9 |
| 4 | Montpellier | 6 | 2 |
UEFA Champions League Group C
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malaga | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | AC Milan | 6 | 8 |
| 3 | Zenit St. Petersburg | 6 | 7 |
| 4 | Anderlecht | 6 | 5 |
UEFA Champions League Group D
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Borussia Dortmund | 6 | 14 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 6 | 11 |
| 3 | Ajax | 6 | 4 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group E
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Juventus | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Shakhtar Donetsk | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | FC Nordsjaelland | 6 | 1 |
UEFA Champions League Group F
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bayern Munich | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | Valencia | 6 | 13 |
| 3 | BATE Borisov | 6 | 6 |
| 4 | Lille | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group G
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 6 | 13 |
| 2 | Celtic | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | Benfica | 6 | 8 |
| 4 | Spartak Moscow | 6 | 3 |
UEFA Champions League Group H
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester United | 6 | 12 |
| 2 | Galatasaray | 6 | 10 |
| 3 | CFR Cluj-Napoca | 6 | 10 |
| 4 | Braga | 6 | 3 |







