Benfica vs Chelsea - 5 Ways The Europa League Final Will Be Won & Lost

5. Who Has The Strongest Team

Benfica Both teams clearly have strong squads and good depth in numbers to have reached the Europa League Final but often it comes down to who has the strongest team on the night of the big games that makes all the difference. Jorge Jesus has a fully fit squad to select from tonight with absolutely no injury concerns while Chelsea will be without three key players in the injured duo of defender John Terry and midfielder Eden Hazard as well as the ineligible striker Demba Ba. It is perhaps Hazard who the Blues will miss the most and the Belgian has been pulling all the strings in midfield for Chelsea this season - his creativity will certainly be missed and he is likely to be replaced by Oscar. The Brazilian has shown flashes of brilliance at times but it remains to be seen if he can cut it in huge games such as these. Meanwhile, the experience and stability John Terry brings to the side will also be missed. Benfica have a team brimming with excellence and can boast the likes of Luisão, Ezequiel Garay, Nemanja Mati‡ and “scar Cardozo and you can't help but wonder if they have a stronger side on paper this evening.
Contributor
Contributor

Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.