Benfica vs Chelsea: Previewing UEFA Champions League Matchup

Chelsea and Benfica take a break from their respective leagues to square off in their first UEFA Champions League matchup in weeks. 

This is also the first time these two clubs will play each other this season, but whichever team losses will soon have a chance at revenge since Benfica and Chelsea play against each other again on April 4. 

Benfica is on a one-game losing streak and Chelsea is hoping to avoid its third loss in a row.

The Blues are 1-1 in Champions League play in 2012, splitting the series against Napoli. Benfica is also 1-1 in Champions League play in 2012, splitting the series against Zenit St Petersburg. 

That being said, let's take a look at some specifics in this UEFA Champions League showdown. 

When: Tuesday, March 27 at 2:45 p.m. ET 

Where: Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal

Watch: SKY Sports TV

What's At Stake? 

It's the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, which means both teams can't afford a loss here. Benfica is trying to reach the semifinals for the first time in 20 years. 

Both teams sit a top their groups in the league, with the second place teams not far behind them. 

This is a crucial match for both clubs because as the season winds down, it's a true test to see how each team handles the intensity that comes this late in the year. 

Players to Watch 

Keep an eye on Frank Lampard. 

The 33-year-old leads the Blues in scoring with 10 goals on the year. Lampard's performance against Benfica will be very crucial for Chelsea. 

The Blues need him to perform well, which is something he's been doing as of late since Chelsea fired its manager not too long ago. Lampard has had his ups and downs, but can't afford to play sloppy tonight. 

Also look out for both Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba. 

Both are very good players and whichever one starts up top will be heavily relied upon. Should the one that's in flop, he'll likely be pulled for the other. 

Chelsea will need all of it's players to produce at a high level. 

Prediction 

This should be close battle throughout, but in the end, I'll take Chelsea to rise up and get the victory away from home. 

Chelsea 2, Benfica 1