Closed Benfica 0-1 Chelsea

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,920]

At this moment in time you have to ink in Mikel's name on the starter sheet.

My god has he really taken the opportunity RDM has given him.

[BosnianLion 232]

Mata needs to rest.. the fatigue affected his concentration.

So happy about this result though!!!

[Madmax 9,219]

All talk, no walk from Benfica.

Thoroughly deserved result .. dealt with whatever they had to throw at us, did the business at the other end. This is more of a win for RDM than Napoli was. The starting lineup oozed freshness and fair play to him for not going for the obvious and using the options at his disposal. Ferreira, Mikel, Ramires, Cole - all immense but MOTM for me has got to be that man David Luiz. Calmness and responsibility personified, it was a heartening performance from someone who's copped an awful lot of (unwarranted) stick from everyone and their dog. A performance of immense maturity and determination.

It's still just half time in this tie and we'll need to maintain this level back home to go through. For tonight though, a job very well done.

P.S - Benfica's histrionics were disgraceful. Really disappointed with them.

[zolayes 14,489]

Cech or Luiz for me, but voted for cech for that superb save in second half.

crawl back into your rat hole ....you were gutted when we scored

[Rambo 1,729]

Kalou just showed us how poor Sturridge is today. He should be starting on the wing for the rest of the season IMO, and Sturridge needs to be brought back down to earth so a few games where he stays on the bench or doesn't even make the matchday squad would certainly force him to think over his attitude.

I disagree, Sturridge offers more going up with his technique and pace. Kalou's more of a goal poacher.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Is it just me or did David luiz's 'hand-ball' that everyone is talking about actually hit his stomach?

[Term-X 7,891]

Defensively we've been solid for the last few games, so no surprises with the clean sheet.

Ramires > Usain Bolt

[Bir_CFC 3,455]

From the locked topic earlier:

I was referring to the David Luiz goal-line handball. And if Harry Kewell gets sent off for that in South Africa, David Luiz should be off for that as well, referee's must be consistent. We all know it's not a penalty, but why are Australia punished for it when Chelsea aren't? Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted that we won 1-0 and it wasn't given, but that penalty in 2010 was the reason we didn't come 2nd in our group and still leaves a sour taste in my mouth, and if the refereeing isn't consistent its a further case for telling FIFA to get to fuck and forming a rebel league with a decision review system.

Obv, one of them is a mistake. Why do you want to make the decision tonight the mistake? Doesn't make sense. If you want to the refs to be consistent, complain about the the Australia penalty, not this one.

[Sheva. 5,373]

Luiz was brilliant. Great result.

[Wavy Crockett 190]

clap for em

that pic with Ramires and the eagle still gets me

[capriccioso 2,545]

I disagree, Sturridge offers more going up with his technique and pace. Kalou's more of a goal poacher.

Look at the dirty work Kalou did tonight, I saw him in our box probably a dozen times and that's not including set pieces. He gets back and defends, which is vital for us as our fullbacks aren't that great anymore. Sturridge is not cut out to be a winger, he will be an excellent striker but he should not be anywhere near the wing. He's only there this season as a stop gap, because we haven't got anyone else who can play on the wing.

Di Matteo's team selection was absolutely brilliant tonight, I'll admit I when I saw Meireles and Ferreira starting tonight I feared the worst but they both came through and played really well, full credit to di Matteo for having faith in his players.

[Rambo 1,729]

That benfica eagle is so badass..imagine if we had a lion at stamford bridge LOL

[Henrique 9,133]

crawl back into your rat hole ....you were gutted when we scored

you are a weird guy.

[termninja 5,290]

If someone said to me 2 months ago that we will be playing in Champions League quarter final and that Torres would assist to Kalou to grab us a victory I probably wouldn't be posting here, instead I would be probably lying 6 feet under due to choking myself out of laughter

Well done lads. Nothing spectacular tonight, but we had our moments, played defensively well, had some luck and deserved a victory. Benfica played nicely also and they still have a chance at SB, though an away goal and victory lift our chances immensely.

Luiz and Rami were awesome. David is turning into a world class defender and mistakes he used to make earlier are now pretty rare. He is also a great lad and I'm very happy we have him but Ramires also. Great players.

Whole of the team did well though, nothing spectacular as I said, but they worked hard, stayed disciplined which ultimately payed of.

MOTM: David Luiz

Bring on Aston Villa :cfc:

[Rambo 1,729]

Look at the dirty work Kalou did tonight, I saw him in our box probably a dozen times and that's not including set pieces. He gets back and defends, which is vital for us as our fullbacks aren't that great anymore. Sturridge is not cut out to be a winger, he will be an excellent striker but he should not be anywhere near the wing. He's only there this season as a stop gap, because we haven't got anyone else who can play on the wing.

Di Matteo's team selection was absolutely brilliant tonight, I'll admit I when I saw Meireles and Ferreira starting tonight I feared the worst but they both came through and played really well, full credit to di Matteo for having faith in his players.

Indeed, I'm not taking anything from Kalou because he was fantastic tonight and held the ball well up front. All i'm saying is if there was one last spot on the team I had to fill, I'd choose Sturridge over Kalou.