EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: BENFICA V CHELSEA

bydwayne johnson - 0

PRE-MATCH BRIEFING: BENFICA V CHELSEA:

Amsterdam

TALKING POINTS
Chelsea have the prospect to affix a genuinely elite of clubs tonight however could ought to show all the hunger and determination of last season's Champions League triumph to realize it.
Here's hoping it's fourth time lucky for tableware this season when defeat within the Community protect, UEFA Super Cup and therefore the FIFA Club tournament.
Victory would place the Stamford Bridge club on a similar pedestal as Bayern city, Juventus and mythical being, whose bowl hosts tonight's curiosity. The Pensioners would stand aboard those greats because the fourth club to win all 3 of UEFA's major trophies. If the UEFA Super Cup is intercalary, the present lot is reduced to only Juve and mythical being.
KEY STAT
A Chelsea finish can guarantee we have a tendency to square measure the primary club ever to be holders at the same time of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

The Londoners might conjointly become the primary team to win the 2 main UEFA trophies in reverse order - José Mourinho's city were the last team to win them in sequential seasons (UEFA Cup in 2002/03 and UEFA Champions League in 2003/04).
The 65cm high, Italian-designed trophy, a handle-less silver cup with a yellow marble footstall, is that the previous UEFA Cup, initial raised in 1972.
This is Chelsea's eleventh final within the ten years of the Roman Abramovich era - the twelfth if you embrace this season's Super Cup - and our fifth European final overall. it's Benfica's ninth European final however their initial in twenty three years; they were defeated in their last six.
After a powerful begin to the New Year the Eagles have hit a rocky patch, registering simply 3 wins in their last eight matches altogether competitions. they need won once in four away visits (courtesy of a penalty and a Marítimo player's own goal) and haven't won on the road in their last 2 Europa League matches, at city (1-1) and Fenerbahçe (0-1).
However, Chelsea's away finish at metropolis within the semi-final was the team's initial since national capital in Gregorian calendar month.
Never the less Benfica's untimely dip was emphasized on Saturday night at the house of title rivals city. during a dramatic conclusion to the title confrontation at the Dragao, Kelvin stricken a winner for Vitor Pereira's facet within the 93rd minute.
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This was a giant psychological blow. Eagles coach Jorge Israelite (pictured above) sank to his knees on the turf not simply because metropolis currently lead the SuperLiga by one purpose before the ultimate match this weekend, however as a result of it predicted his side's 1st league defeat of the season.
Last season's runners-up area unit desirous to get back the title they last claimed in 2009/10 however additionally contest the Portuguese final against Vitória Guimarães in ten days' time.
In distinction Chelsea have hit the most effective kind for a few time and therefore the win at Aston Villa - solely the third there in fifteen visits - just about secure a Champions League end, clearing the decks for tonight's final.
The main headlines were written by Frank Lampard securing his place in Chelsea history as incomparable record goalscorer, reaching 203. it's a noteworthy action for any player, including a midfielder, then several of them are crucial ones. Frank has currently stricken fourteen against Aston Villa - over any opponent. terribly several congratulations once more to him.
(On the goals theme, our winner at previous Trafford was formally attributed to Juan Mata on Mon by a Premier League committee.)
The win within the Midlands did return at the price of 2 casualties, though. John Terry and Eden Hazard each had to be helped off the sphere of play and Hazard will not face Benfica. The captain is to own a late fitness take a look at. a minimum of nobody is suspended this point for the Blues. Terry, Branislav Ivanovic, Ramires and Raul Meireles ignored on last season's oddity.
The Portuguese have already seen off English opposition during this competition, beating Demba Ba's previous club Newcastle United 3-1 reception, due to goals from Rodrigo, capital of Peru and Cardozo. They histrion the second leg 1-1 at St James' Park through a stoppage-time strike by Eduardo Sálvio.
Our opponents within the semi-finals, Basel, had antecedently knocked Tottenham out of the competition once a penalty fight.
If concerned, Nathan Ake may become the youngest Galilean satellite League champion up to now, and Frank Lampard the oldest.
The Portuguese were drawn because the nominal home aspect for tonight's match, however in fact there's no color clash with the Encarnardos' (Reds') kit. each finalists joined the Galilean satellite League having return third in their Champions League teams. Benfica finished behind urban center and Celtic.
The national capital ArenA has staged one previous UEFA final in 1998 within the Champions League between Real capital of Spain and Juventus. it absolutely was additionally used for monetary unit 2000. The capability for UEFA matches is fifty one,800.
If the scorers area unit level once ninety minutes extra-time are vie and, if necessary, penalties.
Chelsea have won 3 of our last 5 penalty shoot-outs, the last being at the Allianz Arena within the Champions League final against Bayern metropolis.
Benfica have featured in barely 2 penalty shoot-outs in Europe, winning their most up-to-date against PAOK Thessalonica within the 1999/00 UEFA Cup second spherical, and losing the opposite within the 1988 European final against PSV urban center.





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