Venue: Amsterdam ArenA Date: Wednesday 15th May K/o: 19:45 BST
Team News
Benfica go into tonight's Europa League Final against Chelsea on the back of a disastrous last gasp defeat to Porto that could yet cost them their Primeira Liga title. It was only the Portuguese side's first defeat since September however and Jorge Jesus has a fully fit squad to select from tonight. Chelsea, meanwhile, are not so fortunate in that department. The Blues will definitely be without defender John Terry and midfielder Eden Hazard, both of whom limped out of Saturday's 2-1 win over Aston Villa. Demba Ba is ineligible and so Fernando Torres will continue in attack. Otherwise, manager Rafael Benitez has a fully fit squad to take to Amsterdam.
Key Stats
Benfica are taking part in their ninth major European final tonight, but the Portuguese giants are on a run of six straight European final defeats since lifting the European Cup in 1962. The sides met for the first time last season when Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea won 1-0 in Lisbon and 2-1 at home to eliminate Jorge Jesus' men in the quarter finals of the Champions League. The Blues are aiming to become the first team to win UEFA's top-two club competitions in reverse order in successive campaigns. Chelsea could also become only the fourth team to lift all three of UEFA's major club trophies, after Juventus, Ajax and Bayern Munich. Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo has scored in six of his team's last ten matches against English opposition. (
Statistics courtesy of Goal.com)
Likely Line-Ups
Benfica Arthur, Pereira, Luisao, Garay, Melgarejo, Matic, Perez, Salvio, Lima, Gaitan, Cardozo
Chelsea Cech, Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Cole, Luiz, Ramires, Oscar, Mata, Moses, Torres
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