José Mourinho’s long-awaited return to Stamford Bridge didn’t go as planned on Tuesday night, as Chelsea edged past Benfica with a 1-0 win in their Champions League clash.
The decisive moment came early, when Richard Ríos accidentally diverted the ball into his own net in the 18th minute. For Mourinho, once adored at Chelsea for delivering three league titles and earning the moniker “The Special One,” it was a tough pill to swallow.
The crowd initially greeted him with warmth, chanting his name as he waved back. But just minutes later, those same fans were on their feet celebrating Chelsea’s lead. The victory made Chelsea the only English side to record a win that night in Europe’s biggest competition.
Liverpool had a tougher outing, falling 1-0 in Istanbul after Victor Osimhen coolly slotted home a penalty for Galatasaray. Tottenham, meanwhile, avoided defeat by the skin of their teeth. Down 2-0 to Bodø/Glimt after a Jens Petter Hauge brace, Spurs clawed back with Micky van de Ven’s strike and an own goal late on to finish 2-2.
Elsewhere, Real Madrid showed no mercy. Kylian Mbappé was unstoppable, hitting a hat trick in a 5-0 dismantling of Kairat Almaty. His treble lifted his Champions League tally to 60 goals, joining an elite list that only Messi and Ronaldo still top.
Bayern Munich were equally ruthless, with Harry Kane scoring twice in a 5-1 victory over Pafos, pushing his season’s tally to 14 across all competitions. Atlético Madrid also dazzled, crushing Eintracht Frankfurt 5-1, with Antoine Griezmann notching his 200th goal for the club—a milestone that cements his legendary status.
Marseille ran riot against Ajax with a 4-0 thrashing, powered by Igor Paixão’s double. Atalanta pulled off a comeback win over Club Brugge, turning a deficit into a 2-1 triumph thanks to Lazar Samardžić and Mario Pašalić. Inter Milan extended their fine form with a 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, Lautaro Martínez bagging a brace and Denzel Dumfries adding the third.
Tuesday’s Champions League Results (Sept. 30, 2025):
-
Club Brugge 1–2 Atalanta
-
Real Madrid 5–0 Kairat Almaty
-
Atlético Madrid 5–1 Eintracht Frankfurt
-
Bayern Munich 5–1 Pafos
-
Bodø/Glimt 2–2 Tottenham
-
Inter Milan 3–0 Slavia Prague
-
Chelsea 1–0 Benfica
-
Marseille 4–0 Ajax
-
Galatasaray 1–0 Liverpool
