Benfica vs. Chelsea | Europa League Final preview

Europa League Final - Benfica vs. Chelsea

Kick - Off 19:45

Date: 15 May 2013

Venues: In Amsterdam

Team News

Benfica

• Maxi Pereira is suspended for Benfica, meaning Lorenzo Malgarejo will likely come in to replace the Uruguay international.


• Other than that, head coach Jorge Jesus has no further injury problems ahead of the Europa League final encounter with Chelsea.

Chelsea

• Rafael Benitez will be without John Terry and Eden Hazard after both limped off during the 2-1 win over Aston Villa with an ankle and hamstring injury, respectively.


• The Chelsea manager is also without long term absentee Oriol Romeu, while John Obi Mikel and Ryan Bertrand are both doubts.


• Ashley Cole will come in at left back after missing the second leg tie with Basel due to being suspended and Demba Ba is ineligible

Match Fact

Benfica succumbed to their first Liga Sagres defeat of the season on Saturday after falling to a 2-1 loss to FC Porto, seeing their title rivals leapfrog them in the table in the process.

Head coach Jorge Jesus is without the suspended Maxi Pereira, meaning Lorenzo Melgarejo will deputise at left back as the Portuguese side look to end their current run of six straight European final defeats.

Rafael Benitez will look to end the campaign on a high as Chelsea aim to become the first team to win UEFA's top-two European competitions in reverse order in successive campaigns.

However, the Blues manager will be without John Terry and Eden Hazard through injury, while Frank Lampard will likely drop to the bench after breaking Bobby Tambling's Chelsea record in the win over Aston Villa.

Ramires and David Luiz look set to anchor the midfield as the pairing come up against their former employers in Amsterdam.

The last time these two teams met, Chelsea came out on top 3-1 on aggregate in the Champions League last season, although the west London side will have to be wary of Benfica striker Oscar Cardozo, who has scored in six of his team's last 10 games against English opposition.

While Benitez has a number of injury worries, the strength in depth and quality to come off the bench will likely see Chelsea secure Europa League glory on Wednesday night.

Heart beating video!!!





Missing player for Benfica:

• Maxi Pereira

Missing players for Chelsea:

• Eden Hazard


• Oriol Romeu


• John Terry


• Demba Ba


• John Obi Mikel (Doubtful)


• Ryan Bertrand (Doubtful)

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