Benfica v Chelsea - EL Final - k/o 7:45pm - ITV/3e

GavRedKing

Chelsea go into this game having all but secured UCL football for next season against a very good Benfica side who have had a one or two slip ups lately in Portugal.

They lost in the last minute to Porto at the weekend and are now trailing Porto going into the last game of the season, it was their first lose all season in the league.

Chelsea on the other hand are missing arguably our best assest, Eden Hazard, Terry faces a fitness test today to see if he'll make the starting XI, we should see Ramries move to right wing as I dont think Rafa will risk Moses in the final.

Team I expect to; see :

Cech
Azp Cahill Ivan Cole
Luiz Lamps
Ramires Mata Oscar

Rafa could also drop Cahill as I think agaisnt Spurs and Villa he was very poor against Benteke and Adebayor and Oscar Cardozo is arguably a step up from both of them, if Cahill is dropped I'd expect a re-shuffle of Ramries to CM, Luiz to CB and Moses on the RW.

Cech
Azp Luiz Ivan Cole
Ramries Lamps
Moses Mata Oscar
Torres


Benfica likely line up

Arthur
Pereira Luisao Garay Melgerjo
Matic Perez
Salvio Lima Gaitan
Cardozo



Should be a great game tonight.

Lovely Bloke

I really want Benfica to win this game.

They won't though, Chelsea nailed on, Rafa is the ultimate cup manager. Another trophy winning manager shown the door by Roman.

GavRedKing

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

I really want Benfica to win this game.

They won't though, Chelsea nailed on, Rafa is the ultimate cup manager. Another trophy winning manager shown the door by Roman.

Excellent, he'll be replaced by a trophy winning manager anyway so wont matter a bollocks really, its the Chelsea way.

Tubbs4

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

I really want Benfica to win this game.

They won't though, Chelsea nailed on, Rafa is the ultimate cup manager. Another trophy winning manager shown the door by Roman.

Did Rafa lose a final with Chelsea already this season. Ultimate losing a final and semi final so far?
Wait till after the game to see if he won a trophy as its not guaranteed.

GavRedKing

Lost 2 semis & 1 finalso far this season, Swansea and Man City and lost the Club World Cup.

Before that we've already lost the Community shield and Super cup, its not really been our year for finals, think we used up all our luck on the UCL win. :pac:

We beat Benfica last year in the QF of the UCL but the Benfica team is better this year by all accounts, shoudl make for a good game, I'm not too confident of a win, you just never know in a final.

super_furry

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

I really want Benfica to win this game.

They won't though, Chelsea nailed on, Rafa is the ultimate cup manager. Another trophy winning manager shown the door by Roman.

In fairness I wouldn't blame Roman for this one - the fans will have to carry the can here.

GavRedKing

super_furry wrote: »

In fairness I wouldn't blame Roman for this one - the fans will have to carry the can here.

If we werent in for Jose I'd be all for keeping Rafa on and see how he gets on given a full season and bigger squad.

duploelabs

What're Benfica's injuries like?

GavRedKing

duploelabs wrote: »

What're Benfica's injuries like?

Benfica are full strength for tonight.

iDave

Nice trophy

GavRedKing

iDave wrote: »

Nice trophy

Your Google skills are lacking, this is the trophy.

Luckycharms_74

I didn't even know this was on tbh, just like last weekends cup final.
The English media is so obsessed with the premier league & champions league the other competitions are left behind.
I will watch it and hope to see a great game
2-1 Chelski (Torres, Mata)

GavRedKing

If its not on Sky you wont hear much about it TBH.

DazMarz

This could be a very good game; should be attacking and open from both teams.

Chelsea missing Hazard is a huge loss.

I still think Chelsea will nick this. 2-1 or 3-2.

Barr

Chelsea win tonite 3-1

LuckyLloyd

GavRedKing wrote: »

If its not on Sky you wont hear much about it TBH.

Wimbledon is my favourite one every summer. One of the bigger sporting events of any summer, and it might get two minutes at the tailend of every hour on Sky Sports News.

kfallon

I'll settle for 8-7 to either team....as long as it's not a boring 8-7 :pac:

mike65

GavRedKing wrote: »

If its not on Sky you wont hear much about it TBH.

You will, just not on SKY Sports! So watch, read, listen to other channels.

intellectual dosser

mike65 wrote: »

You will, just not on SKY Sports! So watch, read, listen to other channels.

Eh - where else am I going to get an abundance of English County Cricket?

Chelsea will win tonight, but I think both teams will score, hopefully making it interesting for the neutrals.

GavRedKing

intellectual dosser wrote: »

Eh - where else am I going to get an abundance of English County Cricket?

Chelsea will win tonight, but I think both teams will score, hopefully making it interesting for the neutrals.

Depends on how we start, if its our usual slow ponderouis start we could be picked off early and struggle to get back into it, Benficas best chance of scoring against us is in the opening 15 mins IMO.

dfx-

GavRedKing wrote: »

Benfica are full strength for tonight.

Physically, but mentally after that game against Porto, there has to be question marks..

GavRedKing

dfx- wrote: »

Physically, but mentally after that game against Porto, there has to be question marks..

Buddy of mine lost a nice wedge on the draw, thought he was quids in coming up to the 90th minute.

Benfica will be no pushovers, by all accounts Porto shouldnt slip up in the League so its a real chance for a trophy so I reckon theyll be bulling for it.

Hazard missing for us really is a blow hes a very good go to guy, wriggles away freely and often draws fouls and is an effortless carrier of the ball, nobody in the squad can reaplce him but we need Mata and those around him to be nearly perfect tonight.

Mezcita

Is Lampard likely to start with Hazard out?

Weighing up a few quid on him to score...

GavRedKing

I'd reckon hes nailed on to start.

I reckon we'll go with

Cech
Azp Ivan Luiz Cole
Ramires Lamps
Oscar Mata Moses
Torres



Cahill has had 2 poor games against Villa & Spurs so I'd reckon Rafa will axe him.

Teams should be out around 6.30 if ya can wait.

GavRedKing

Jelle1880 wrote: »

Cardozo FGS, Chelsea to win: 130/1

Those are very sweet odds. :eek:

Could be worth a few quid.

Both teams to score and Chelsea to win in 90 mins is coming up about between 4/1, 9/2, 5/1 depending on your bookmaker.

Jelle1880

GavRedKing wrote: »

Those are very sweet odds. :eek:

Could be worth a few quid.

Both teams to score and Chelsea to win in 90 mins is coming up about between 4/1, 9/2, 5/1 depending on your bookmaker.

Seems like I was wrong, it's way down now (maybe an error on their side).

Still 40/1 with bet365 though.

GavRedKing

Jelle1880 wrote: »

Seems like I was wrong, it's way down now (maybe an error on their side).

Still 40/1 with bet365 though.

Still good odds, we do tend to ship goals early in the bigger matches when a team comes at us so I wouldnt be surprised if we went 1-0 early on.

MD1990

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Wimbledon is my favourite one every summer. One of the bigger sporting events of any summer, and it might get two minutes at the tailend of every hour on Sky Sports News.

they had Wimbledom half hour reports 2-3 times a day last year

Nuri Sahin

The Open Chamionship gets little mention from Sky Sports.

Wimbledon on the other hand was getting a fair bit of coverage last summer from Sky Sports with their reports during the day. I think they had an early morning one as well that lasted an hour.

Johner

10-0 Chelsea.

sReq | uTeK

At loggerheads here, absolutely HATE Chelsea as a club and all they stand for, like torres, mata, lamps and Rafa...


Who do I want to win...

intellectual dosser

Looks likely Terry won't play. Chelsea fans should be happy when you reflect on Chelsea's success in European finals depending on Terry's participation.

missingtime

henrywinter: #cfc Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole; Lampard, Luiz; Ramires, Mata, Oscar; Torres.

Legion.

So Marko Marin isn't dead. Good to see.

hots

missingtime wrote: »

henrywinter: #cfc Cech; Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole; Lampard, Luiz; Ramires, Mata, Oscar; Torres.

That's a good strong team, Cahill off for Moses if we're struggling/he's having a shocker...

Sparks43

Breaking news:

John Terry has left his chelsea kit at home so will not be able to join in the celebrations Tonight.

Benfica have kindly donated a kit though :pac:

retalivity

I do think it would be hilarious if he did it again if chelsea win, shinpads and everything.

Nuri Sahin

Here's hoping one from Mata, Luiz, Ramires and Cordozo wins MOTM

Essien

retalivity wrote: »

I do think it would be hilarious if he did it again if chelsea win, shinpads and everything.

He was told by Uefa to do it, as I'm sure will any unavailable/squad player who celebrates this season should their team win a Uefa trophy.

retalivity

Essien wrote: »

He was told by Uefa to do it, as I'm sure will any unavailable/squad player who celebrates this season should their team win a Uefa trophy.

yeah, but wont the rest of them be fully dressed?

Essien

retalivity wrote: »

yeah, but wont the rest of them be fully dressed?

The rest of them will be wearing a full kit too, assuming its the same as last seasons CL - the reason is apparently to make the celebration look more 'uniform'.

MagicMarker

Rooney did it on Sunday, wasn't in the squad but was wearing his kit for the trophy lifting shenanigans.

mike65

C'mon Rafa :pac:

Dempsey

This should be a good game for the neutral!

dundalkfc10

MagicMarker wrote: »

Rooney did it on Sunday, wasn't in the squad but was wearing his kit for the trophy lifting shenanigans.

I noticed this myself, he came down from the directors area in his full kit just like Terry (at least Terry loves the club, this a man who asked to be sold less than 2 weeks before)

MagicMarker

Sounds like they're playing the Titanic soundtrack.

Kerrigooney

I'm delighted for Terry. Delighted.

Mr.Crinklewood

Benfica look an awfully small team.

KingdomYid

Meh is a joke of a final as neither team was even in the competition at the beginning.

JP Liz V1

Better start from Benfica but still think Chelesa will win though (going for 2-1 to them)

Panthro

Kerrigooney wrote: »

I'm delighted for Terry. Delighted.

That he's injured and can't play?
Take a bow good sir.