Chelsea FC vs SL Benfica preview - Di Matteo warns against complacency

Posted Wednesday, April 04, 2012 by PA

Roberto Di Matteo has warned his Chelsea side they risk making the wrong kind of history if they fail to take their Champions League clash with Benfica seriously.

The Blues, who became only the fourth club ever to overturn a two-goal first-leg deficit when they beat Napoli to reach the quarter-finals, need only to draw the second leg to avoid becoming the third side to crash out after a first-leg away win.

Chelsea are odds-on favourites to reach their sixth semi-final in nine years, having sealed a surprisingly straightforward 1-0 victory in last Tuesday's game in Lisbon.

Complacency would therefore appear to be the biggest threat to Di Matteo's men setting up a mouthwatering tie against Barcelona or AC Milan.

The Italian coach said: "It is a danger. This is half-time and we're leading 1-0. But a 1-0 lead is basically nothing.

"Our players are aware of this, and we'll have to go into this game with the right attitude, the same attitude as against Napoli.

"Nothing has been done yet. We're aware of that. We need to go and qualify for the next round."

Benfica's limp performance at the Estadio da Luz contrasted sharply with those in their Champions League campaign as a whole, with Jorge Jesus' men having helped eliminate Manchester United in the group stage.

Di Matteo added: "This tie is far from over.

"They have scored in every away game of their Champions League season, so it's a difficult task."

Didier Drogba (foot), David Luiz (ankle), and Raul Meireles (knee) all trained for Chelsea, with Di Matteo optimistic over their fitness.

Benfica boss Jesus has branded Chelsea "lucky" to be ahead in the tie.

He said: "Chelsea obviously have the upper hand, but we are going to approach this game in the same manner as we would have if we had won the first game.

"Chelsea had quite a lot of luck in the first match, considering we dominated the match.

"We have the quality to win this game, obviously, and I'm sure that - this time round - we can turn the tables on Chelsea and do the same as they did in Lisbon."

Jesus added: "They came out to play for a 0-0 draw and ended up getting a win.

"They'll be dangerous from set-pieces but we need to play an offensive game and cancel out that first-leg advantage."

Jesus could be forced to play holding midfielder Javi Garcia as a makeshift centre-half, with captain Luisao a major doubt with a knee injury.