Good evening and welcome to LIVE coverage of Chelsea against Benfica from the Amsterdam Arena. Rafael Benitez's side are in the unique position of bidding for a European trophy for a second straight season after lifting the Champions League last term. Another glorious night ahead perhaps? A 7:45pm kick-off in the Netherlands.

Oscar is booked for a late challenge on Perez as he cut a dash through the middle. Clear foul and Benfica have a free-kick 25 yards from goal.

Luiz penalised for a tugging the shirt of Matic. Benfica passing the ball well after Chelsea shed possession.

Another chance for Gaitan as he lifts the ball miles over the ball from Salvio's cutback. Some gorgeous football again by Benfica.

Cardozo and Salvio with shots inside the Chelsea box. Ivanovic doing well to make a block. Chelsea cut open by Benfica, who are so, so comfortable on the ball.

Lovely ball from Mata for Oscar there. He is going to pose a huge threat to the Eagles tonight. Chelsea lying fairly deep before Gaitan wins the ball from Ramires with a strong tackle.

Super ball over the top looking for Oscar from Mata. Oscar fails to get the ball down and Artur collects in the opposition goal.

Cech hammers the ball long from deep. Benfica again collect through Rodrigo. The Portuguese side looking menacing every time they collect.

Ramires getting a spot of treatment before he returns to the action. Chelsea yet to cut Benfica open.

Matic brings down Ramires with a cynical late challenge. That is going to be a talking to from the referee. Should have perhaps been a yellow card.

Benfica appeals for a penalty against Cahill, but replays showed that it was a clear chest. Benfica fans making themselves heard here early on.

Salvio knocks a chip into the box. Cahill with a block before Cole chests it back to Cech. Decent start here by Benfica.

Cardozo with a header over the bar from Almeida's cross. Couple of yards over. Early warning for Chelsea. Can't allow the Paraguayan that amount of space.

Off we go then. Benfica get the action off and running.

Odds for this one tonight. Chelsea 6/4 Benfica 11/5 Draw 12/5. All ready to go then in this one.

Teams on their way out here. Benfica in red, Chelsea in blue. Glorious night for football as that Europa League anthem blares out. Okay. It is not the Champions League tune. But is still quite catchy. We think.

Benfica are looking to end 51 years without a European trophy after six straight final defeats. The sides met for the first time last season when Roberto Di Matteo's Chelsea won 1-0 in Lisbon and 2-1 at home to eliminate Jorge Jesus's men in the quarter-finals on their way to winning the Champions League.

Jorge Jesus: "No Benfica player has undermined the quality of any Chelsea player or the Chelsea team (referring to Pablo Aimar's quote that the current squad is the worst since Roman Abramovich bought the club). Chelsea is an excellent team and they will finish third in the Premier League this year. They have quality... Benfica is a club that throughout its history has had an excellent performance in Europe. Benfica has recovered some of its prestige over the last few years."

Rafael Benitez: "If we can do it I will be really proud because we have worked so hard in difficult circumstances... Benfica are a good team and they have experience in Europe. In a final it is 50-50 and we will see what happens. A European final is massive. Maybe you can score an early goal and change the game or concede three and have to change at half-time. You have to have confidence and belief you can do well."

Chelsea could become the first team to hold both of UEFA's club trophies simultaneously, but Benfica are returning to the scene of their 5-3 win over Real Madrid in Amsterdam in the 1962 European Cup final at the old Olympisch Stadium. Ferenc Puskas scored a hat-trick for Real with Eusebio netting a double for the Portuguese side.

Benfica right-back Maxi Pereira is suspended but they have a ready-made replacement in André Almeida. They have no other absentees, although Alan Kardec is unavailable after being left out of the club's premilinary European squad.

Lampard plays alongside David Luiz as the two midfield holding players with Brazilian Ramires pushed forward to join compatriot Oscar and Juan Mata in a trio playing just behind Fernando Torres. Demba Ba, signed from Newcastle United in January, is cup-tied.