It are probably not as illustrious as your Champions League final, but Wednesday's Europa Category final between Chelsea and Benfica comes packed with plenty of intriguing storylines.
Meant for Chelsea, the Europa League final is the opportunity to win an alternate major European trophy in eighteen months, as the team won the Champions League last season and may become the first club to maintain both trophies at the same time.
For Benfica, it is the possibility to hoist their first European trophy since 1962 irrespective of reaching six finals since that time. It may also function as a opportunity to lessen the blow with a major disappointment this end of the week after Porto defeated them, 2-1, dropping Benfica to second on the table with just a game to go.
Chelsea fans never certainly wanted Rafa Benitez to take over as interim broker, and they've never really started to him throughout the growing season. But with a Champs League spot essentially clinched and a good Europa League title hanging with the balance, he's certainly accomplished his job.
And as Phil McNulty involving BBC writes, Benitez would like activities like to remind Chelsea fans of these fact with one very last parting gift on Sunday:
If many Chelsea fans refuse to remember Benitez's short beginning reign at Stamford Bridge once he's got gone, the Spaniard is a least determined to leave a trophy behind in reference to his name alongside it.
Chelsea's supporters would possibly not wish to recall Benitez by using any fondness, but you suspect that most divisive of managers may take added pleasure in going for no option by providing success.
Benitez has made high of his reputation on that one-off European set-piece, proving a booming strategist while taking Liverpool to two Champions League finals - therefore was clear this level suits him as they faced the media in Amsterdam.
Cardozo may be magnificent for Benfica this year, with 24 goals around 37 appearances across all competitions to your Portuguese side. He's been particularly clinical within this tournament, scoring six goals in eight Europa League appearances.
Cardozo isn't your creator, but given any number of space in or in the box and he could be truly lethal. He's a threat with the air, deadly on establish pieces, he can finish with either foot and it is a dangerous poacher who finds ways to put the ball within the net.
Benfica is a good defensive team and will keep Chelsea's dangerous attack in balance, but they may not be capable of maintain a clean sheet. That makes Cardozo's performance even more vital for the team, and makes him a person the Blues must be aware of at all times.
With Eden Hazard out due to injury and Demba Ba ineligible to help play (he's cup-tied since he played in the tournament with Newcastle earlier inside year), Frank Lampard should be a facilitator and potentially a goalscorer for Chelsea.
With John Mikel Obi in question to play, he must drop deeper into the midfield and become a presence defensively. And with John Terry questionable also, the veteran will has to be Chelsea's leader on built.
In other words, Lampard will need to fill a few roles with several of Chelsea's key players possibly out for this match. But Chelsea's scoring standard and likely captain for any game is certainly around the task.
Prefer, really like this Benfica side. They play as a good team, have more talent than folks new to the Portuguese Liga realize and won't be intimidated by Chelsea. Not whatsoever.
But the Blues possess a roster full of members that won a Champions League title this, a manager in Benitez whom led Liverpool to several Champions League finals in addition to true difference makers with Lampard, David Luiz and Juan Mata who are able to take over any gameplay or change the momentum by having a flash of brilliance.
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