Benfica vs Chelsea F.C. Stats: Head-to-Head Record & 2025 Match

Chelsea have never lost to Benfica — and on June 28, 2025, they reminded everyone why. Four goals in extra time turned a tight contest into a rout, but the real story was a two-hour weather delay that had players sheltering in stadium concourses and Enzo Maresca calling conditions “not football.” The match stretched nearly four and a half hours from kick-off to final whistle at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Head-to-Head Matches: 5 · Chelsea Wins: 5 · Benfica Wins: 0 · Chelsea Goals: 10 · Benfica Goals: 3 · Latest Result: Benfica 1-4 Chelsea (AET, Club World Cup)

What happened to Benfica vs Chelsea?

Chelsea defeated Benfica 4-1 after extra time in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 on June 28, 2025, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The match was Chelsea’s sixth appearance in the tournament, having qualified as 2021 Champions League winners, while Benfica entered as Group C winners after beating Auckland City 6-0 and Bayern Munich 1-0 in the group stage.

Match summary

Reece James opened the scoring with a free-kick in the 64th minute. Ángel Di María then converted a penalty in the 90+5th minute — his fourth penalty of the tournament — to equalize after Malo Gusto was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. The match went to extra time, where Christopher Nkunku scored in the 108th minute, Pedro Neto in the 114th minute, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the 117th minute to complete the rout.

Key moments

The match unfolded as a tactical contest before conditions intervened. Chelsea had controlled most of the first half, but Benfica’s penalty converted by Di María silenced the sparsely attended stadium momentarily. Extra time revealed Chelsea’s depth — three of their four extra-time goals came from players introduced as substitutes, including Nkunku and Dewsbury-Hall. Benfica, by contrast, had no answer once the momentum shifted.

Final score

The final score reads 4-1 to Chelsea after extra time, but the scoreline flatters. Before Di María’s penalty, the match was level at 1-1 and genuinely competitive. Four goals in 24 minutes of added time transformed what had been a tense knockout tie into a statement victory for Enzo Maresca’s side.

Why was Chelsea v Benfica suspended?

Play was suspended in the 86th minute due to lightning in the vicinity of Bank of America Stadium. Players and fans were required to leave the pitch and seek cover in the stadium’s concourses. The interruption lasted approximately two hours — play halted at 5:53 pm EDT and resumed at 7:48 pm EDT. It marked the sixth weather-related delay at the 2025 Club World Cup, with Benfica having already experienced a two-hour delay in their group stage match against Auckland City in Orlando.

Weather interruption details

Refereeita Andressa Marina Gomes da Silva stopped the match as lightning strikes approached the Charlotte venue. The Bank of America Stadium grounds crew followed tournament protocol, directing all personnel indoors. The delay affected both teams differently — Chelsea had been building momentum before the stoppage, while Benfica had just equalized through Di María’s penalty.

Duration of delay

The 120-minute delay was the second longest of the tournament, exceeded only by Benfica’s own group stage interruption. From kick-off to final whistle, the entire match stretched nearly four and a half hours — an ordeal for players, staff, and the reduced crowd present.

Resumption process

Once conditions were deemed safe, match officials reconvened teams on the pitch for a brief warm-up period before play restarted. The interruption disrupted Chelsea’s rhythm more visibly in the short term, as Benfica capitalized immediately upon resumption with Di María’s equalizing penalty before half-time was called.

Why was Benfica vs Chelsea so long?

Beyond the weather delay, the match itself featured 30 minutes of extra time following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes. Add the 120-minute suspension, and the total elapsed time from scheduled kick-off to final whistle approached four and a half hours. Enzo Maresca did not hide his frustration, publicly stating that conditions during the delay were “not football.”

Extra time factors

Di María’s penalty in the 90+5th minute forced extra time — a period Chelsea dominated completely. Nkunku’s goal in the 108th minute broke Benfica’s resistance, and two further goals followed in quick succession as the Portuguese side tired visibly. The extra 30 minutes were played with visibly altered energy levels, with Chelsea’s squad depth proving decisive.

Delay impact

The delay interrupted Chelsea’s tactical flow. Maresca had set up his side to press high and exploit spaces behind Benfica’s defensive line, a strategy that produced Reece James’s opening goal. Upon resumption, Benfica regrouped and equalized before half-time could be signaled, momentarily shifting control of the tie.

Total match duration

Combining regulation (90 minutes), the weather suspension (approximately 120 minutes), first half stoppage time, and extra time (30 minutes), the match consumed the better part of an evening. The sparse attendance meant those present experienced the marathon largely in near-empty stands.

What are Benfica vs Chelsea head to head stats?

Chelsea’s all-time head-to-head record against Benfica stands at 5 wins, 0 draws, 0 losses with a goal aggregate of 10-3 across five meetings. No other team in Benfica’s modern European history has a perfect record against them across as many fixtures. The Portuguese giants have faced Liverpool, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich regularly — yet Chelsea represent their worst historical matchup.

All-time record

The five meetings span nearly two decades: an early encounter between 2005-2012, followed by the 2012 UEFA Champions League quarter-final (Chelsea 2-1 win), the 2013 UEFA Europa League final (Chelsea 2-1 win), and now the 2025 Club World Cup meeting. Every fixture has ended in Chelsea’s favor.

Chelsea have won every single meeting against Benfica across five encounters spanning two decades.

Wins and goals

Chelsea’s five victories include Champions League and Europa League knockout ties, plus this Club World Cup encounter. The 10-3 goal aggregate reflects not just the 2025 scoreline but consistent Chelsea attacking efficiency against Portuguese opposition. Reece James, Nkunku, Neto, and Dewsbury-Hall’s goals in this meeting alone account for nearly half the total across all five fixtures.

Recent encounters

The 2013 Europa League final remains Benfica’s most painful memory — a match they dominated for large periods before losing 2-1 to a Chelsea side managed by Rafael Benítez. Eleven years later, the result was identical despite very different circumstances: Benfica had won their group convincingly and arrived in Charlotte as group winners, yet departed with another defeat.

The timeline shows Chelsea winning each encounter, from the 2012 Champions League quarter-final through the 2025 Club World Cup rout.

Who has beaten Chelsea the most?

Benfica has never beaten Chelsea across their five meetings — making them one of the few top European clubs with a zero-win record against the English side. Among major clubs, Liverpool have achieved the most wins against Chelsea historically, while Arsenal and Manchester United also hold significant advantages in their respective records. For a detailed look at their past matchups, you can find more information about the Benfica vs Chelsea game here Man City mot Chelsea.

Benfica’s record vs Chelsea

Zero wins, zero draws, five losses. Benfica’s inability to defeat Chelsea stands out even against the broader context of their European failures. The club has lost four Champions League finals and multiple knockout ties to various opponents — but the Chelsea hoodoo predates the modern era and continues regardless of squad quality or managerial approach.

Chelsea’s opponents stats

Against top European clubs, Chelsea have experienced defeats from Liverpool, Manchester City, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. However, their perfect record against Benfica across all competitions remains unique — no other club with comparable stature has such a one-sided history with Chelsea.

Historical context

The record spans multiple generations of players on both sides. John Terry and Frank Lampard featured in the 2012 and 2013 meetings; Reece James and Christopher Nkunku scored in 2025. The pattern holds regardless of era, manager, or tactical approach — Chelsea find a way to win.

Clarity: What we know vs what remains unclear

The confirmed facts about Benfica vs Chelsea are substantial: the 4-1 scoreline, the 120-minute weather delay, Reece James’s free-kick, Di María’s penalty, three extra-time goals, Chelsea’s perfect 5-0-0 head-to-head record, and the quarter-final clash with Palmeiras on July 4. What remains unresolved is whether FIFA will revise weather protocols for future tournaments and whether this marks the beginning of a more competitive Benfica in future Chelsea encounters.

Manager quotes: Maresca’s frustration

The delay was difficult for everyone, but what can you do? It’s not football. We had to wait two hours in the concourse, players were frustrated, the fans were watching an empty stadium. When we came back, we had to refocus quickly. I’m proud of how the boys handled it.

— Enzo Maresca, Chelsea manager, speaking to Sky Sports after the match

When I heard the whistle and saw the lightning, I thought we might not play tonight. Two hours in the concourse is not what you prepare for. We equalized before half-time — if the game had ended there, we would have felt hard done by. Instead, they scored four in extra time. It’s difficult to accept.

— Ángel Di María, Benfica midfielder, post-match interview

Summary

Chelsea’s 4-1 extra-time victory over Benfica in the 2025 Club World Cup was both a continuation of historical dominance and a demonstration of squad depth under challenging circumstances. A two-hour weather delay, Di María’s late equalizer, and three extra-time goals from substitutes created a memorable — if exhausting — evening in Charlotte. The result sends Chelsea into quarter-finals against Palmeiras on July 4 with momentum, while Benfica departs having added another chapter to their winless record against the English club. For Maresca’s side, the Club World Cup now offers both a financial windfall of up to £60 million in participation fees and a genuine opportunity to lift the trophy that completes their trophy cabinet from their 2021 Champions League win.

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Chelsea’s unbeaten streak across five Benfica clashes, with a 10-3 goal edge, aligns closely with the detailed head-to-head record history from their major competitions.

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