Mourinho's Bernabeu homecoming upended by suspension, racism row
Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho runs on to the pitch to retrieve loose ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP) Related content Photos fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder #41 Estevao runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica German referee Daniel Siebert shows a yellow card to Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi (unseen) during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic runs with the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Croatian forward #09 Franjo Ivanovic (L) listens to instructions from Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho before being substituted on during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho gestures during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish goalkeeper #01 Robert Sanchez reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios reacts after scoring an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios scores an own goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) vies with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (L) falls on Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Spanish defender #03 Marc Cucurella (R) clears the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Swedish defender #26 Samuel Dahl (C) clears the ball from the feet of Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian midfielder #05 Enzo Barrenechea (R) vies with Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #40 Facundo Buonanotte during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Argentinian defender #30 Nicolas Otamendi controls the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez (L) vies with Benfica's Colombian midfielder #20 Richard Rios during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Bosnian defender #17 Amar Dedic falls over the barrier during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca shouts instructions to his players from the touchline during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's Ecuadorian midfielder #25 Moises Caicedo (R) chases down Benfica's Belgian midfielder #11 Dodi Lukébakio during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Chelsea's French defender #27 Malo Gusto (L) and Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) vie with Benfica's Ukrainian midfielder #10 Heorhiy Sudakov during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica The fourth official asks Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho to return to his own technical area during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho reacts during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica Police officers stand on duty above a merchandise stall ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica A Deliveroo cycle rider passes Benfica fans stood outside an Italian restaurant ahead of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Chelsea and Benfica at Stamford Bridge in London on September 30, 2025. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - benfica fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (C) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica players take part in a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) takes a training session on the pitch at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - training fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho embraces a long-time Chelsea employee as he leaves after a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho (R) attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser Benfica's Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho attends a press conference at Stamford Bridge, as a photo of him as Chelsea's former manager holding a trophy, hangs on a wall, in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser fbl - eur - c1 - benfica - presser A Sky Sports reporter speaks into the camera as they work beside a photo of Chelsea's former Portuguese head coach Jose Mourinho, ahead of a Benfica press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Chelsea. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's French defender #05 Benoit Badiashile (R) takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca takes a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro (C) and teammates take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #19 Alejandro Garnacho takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Brazilian striker #20 Joao Pedro takes part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto, Chelsea's Argentinian midfielder #08 Enzo Fernandez and Chelsea's English defender #24 Reece James take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - training Chelsea players take part in a team training session at Chelsea's Cobham training facility in Stoke D'Abernon, southwest of London on September 29, 2025, ahead of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Chelsea's Portuguese midfielder #07 Pedro Neto reacts during a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser Beside a photo of Jose Mourinho, Chelsea's Italian head coach Enzo Maresca speaks at a press conference at Stamford Bridge in London on September 29, 2025, on the eve of their UEFA Champions League league phase football match against Benfica. fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - chelsea - presser fbl - eur - c1 - bodoe glimt - tottenham topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Gabonese forward #97 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (2ndL) shoots to score past Ajax's Czech goalkeeper #01 Vitezslav Jaros during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's French defender #28 Benjamin Pavard (L) and Ajax's Belgian forward #11 Mika Godts fight for the ball during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025. topshot - fbl - eur - c1 - marseille - ajax Marseille's players including Marseille's English defender #04 Conrad Jaden Egan-Riley, Marseille's US forward #22 Timothy Weah, Marseille's Belgian goalkeeper #40 Jelle Van Neck, Marseille's Brazilian forward #14 Igor Paixao and Marseille's Italian defender #33 Emerson Palmieri celebrate after winning the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 2, football match between Olympique de Marseille (FRA) and AFC Ajax (NED) at the Velodrome stadium, in Marseille on September 30, 2025.
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Mourinho cannot sit in the dug-out for the play-off second leg after being sent off during his team's 1-0 first-leg defeat in Lisbon last week.
The 63-year-old also came under fire for his controversial comments in the aftermath of alleged racial abuse aimed at Madrid star Vinicius Junior by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni.
The Argentine will miss the second leg after UEFA provisionally suspended him for one game amid an investigation into the incident.
Mourinho, who won a La Liga title with Los Blancos during three years at the helm, made a big impact on the Spanish giants during a period of particularly bitter rivalry with Barcelona and a dressing room divided for and against him.
Madrid president Florentino Perez is known to be a big fan of the Portuguese coach and rumours persist that Mourinho could be hired next season to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, if the current campaign ends badly.
The Spaniard, one of Mourinho's disciples during his spell at the helm of the 15-time European champions, faces his biggest test yet since replacing Xabi Alonso in January as Benfica visit the Spanish capital.
Mourinho was dismissed in the first leg for vociferous complaints from the touchline.
The coach said referee Francois Letexier was avoiding booking Madrid players who were at risk of suspension for the second leg.
"I've had my butt on the bench for 1,400 games and (I could see that) he knew perfectly well who he could book and who he couldn't," complained Mourinho bitterly.
"I (won't be) sitting on the bench, I can't go to the dressing room, I can't communicate with the team," he added. "It's hard for me, but my teammates and my assistants are there, they'll do their job."
- Prestianni banned -
The first leg was tarnished by Prestianni's alleged racial slur aimed at Vinicius.
UEFA's decision to suspend the Benfica player for one game has eased some tension ahead of the second leg, and he could miss at least 10 if European football's governing body finds he racially abused Vinicius.
Vinicius wrote that "racists are above all cowards", on social media after the game, while Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe backed his team-mate and said he had heard Prestianni calling the winger a monkey.
The 20-year-old Benfica midfielder insists he did not racially abuse Vinicius while hiding his mouth with his shirt, after the Brazilian's stunning goal which split the sides at the Estadio da Luz.
Mourinho said that he had spoken to both players and they had given him different versions of events.
Then the Portuguese coach said Vinicius's goal celebration was disrespectful and said Benfica was not a racist club because their biggest icon, Eusebio, was black.
"He's saying it's okay, when Vinicius provokes you, to be racist -- and I think that is very wrong," former Netherlands midfielder Clarence Seedorf told Amazon Prime.
"We should never, ever justify racial abuse."
Real Madrid defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said the incident, which led to the second half being paused for around 10 minutes, was a "disgrace to football".
The second leg will be played under its shadow as Madrid seek to avoid a humiliating early exit at the hands of Mourinho and qualify for the last 16.
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