Mourinho narrative casts its all-consuming shadow over trifling matter of Chelsea v Benfica

Mourinho back on familiar turf : Picture by @YTJourno

Champions League Group Stage

Chelsea (1) 1 Rios og 18

Benfica (0) 0

It was a rerun of the 2013 Europa League final. An important contest between two sides anxious to get their Champions League campaigns up and running after defeats on matchday one. A game between two of the big names in European football. And yet, none of it seemed as significant as the sub-plot.

Jose was back in town. Nothing else seemed remotely as noteworthy.

Pre-match press conferences carried as much clout in the papers and on social media as the match itself.

It is far from the former Blues boss' first visit via an opposition dug out. He's done it when in charge of Inter Milan and while overseeing Man United and Tottenham. But it never fails to push the emotional buttons.

Mourinho declared himself 'Always a Blue' on the eve of this anemic contest, and having won the title three times while at Stamford Bridge - not to mention an FA Cup and few League Cups - it is hardly surprising.

The bond between former boss and the fans is assured. Cast in stone. Blues supporters were only too delighted to soak it all up again and chant his name. He has come in for some stick on previous visits but that pantomime stuff can't disguise the true nature of a besotted relationship.

As for the football, it was only intermittently distracting, even if the atmosphere spiked by a fine away following made for a colourful evening. The away end gave former player Enzo Fernandez some predictable vitriol. Both sets of fans chanted Mourinho's name and got a wave from The Special One.

Benfica had some good moments but rarely troubled the Blues' solid rearguard. Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis was starved of real openings. Ditto Tyrique George at the other end in a game of minimal excitement.

After an early scare, when Dodi Lukebakio clipped the outside of a post for the Portuguese, the Blues were in front. Pedro Neto, who had already fired an effort just wide, crossed from the right and Alejando Garnacho's first-time ball back across the six-yard box was rifled into his own net by Richard Rios.

It turned out to be enough, though once more Chelsea finished up a man down as sub Joao Pedro received a second yellow card late on. An unnecessary footnote. The striker will miss the the next tie against Ajax.

Still, after their back-to-back league defeats with 10 men this was a welcome reboot for Chelsea ahead of Liverpool's visit at the weekend. They should be able to go on and claim qualification for next year's knockout rounds after this now-elongated format plays out.

For Mourinho, his latest challenge back in his homeland after a spell in Turkey may not feel as homely as Stamford Bridge will always be for the returning maverick.

Read Mourinho's post-match thoughts HERE

Blues: (4-2-3-1) Sanchez - Gusto (James 80), Cholobah, Badiashile (Acheampong 80), Cucurella - Caicedo, Fernandez - Pedro Neto, Buonanotte (Estevao 54), Garnacho (Gittens 61) - George (Joaoa Pedro 61)

Benfica: (4-2-3-1) Trubin - Dedic, Antonio Silva (Tomas Araujo 73), Otamendi, Dahl - Rios (Barreiro 77), Barrenechea - Lukebakio (Schjelderup 77), Aursnes (Henrique Araujo 90) - Sudakov (Ivanovic 77) - Pavlidis

Attendance: 38,636