54andcounting

45+1 Garay booked for dragging down Oscar HALF-TIME 0-0 Rafa Benitez will be happy to get his team back in without a goal being conceded. Benfica by far the more fluent side but over elaborate and their finishing has been awful.

38 - Fantastic save from Lampard shot.

14 - 1st yellow card, Oscar

Benfica have made the better start to the game so far and are pushing high up the pitch.

KICK OFF.... We are under way.

The Line-ups: Benfica: Artur Moraes, Almeida, Luisao, Garay, Melgarejo, Perez, Matic, Rodrigo, Gaitan, Cardozo, Salvio. Subs: Paulo Lopes, Aimar, Lima, John, Urreta, Jardel, Gomes. Chelsea: Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Cahill, Cole, Lampard, Luiz, Ramires, Mata, Oscar, Torres. Subs: Turnbull, Mikel, Moses, Ferreira, Marin, Benayoun, Ake. Referee: Bjorn Kuipers (Holland) THE PRIZE

There are plenty of flags in place for the Chelsea fans ahead of kick-off.

Eden Hazard misses out with a hamstring injury, while Victor Moses drops to the bench and Ryan Bertrand is not involved. In come Ashley Cole, Juan Mata and Oscar. Frank Lampard captains the side, while John Terry is unavailable through injury. For Benfica, top scorer Lima is on the bench with Rodrigo taking his place in the side while Melgarejo comes in for Maxi Pereira, who is suspended.

Eusebio was part of the last Benfica team to win silverware in Europe, way back in 1962. Some Benfica fans claim that the same man who masterminded that success is responsible for the lack of European trophies since. Former coach Bela Guttmann, who led them to victory over Real Madrid, left soon after in a dispute over pay and swore that the club would never win continental silverware without him. He is yet to be proved wrong despite regular pilgrimages to lay flowers on his grave in an attempt to appease him in the afterlife. The fans head for the match.....

...er, um sorry about that, now back to the football... Chelsea fans before the big game

Going a bit off topic here folks, but I can't not share this with you.... Don't worry the football hasn't kicked off yet at time of print. Miss Solo is a keen gardener and spends a lot of time in her garden when relaxing... This is Hope watering the lawn.... ...and showing off her new garden shed....

Hope Solo, goalkeeper for the United States women's national football team is there...drool:nuts:

Chelsea aim to win a European trophy in successive seasons when they face Benfica. The Blues travel to the Amsterdam ArenA as marginal favourites over the Portuguese outfit. The sun is blazing and there's large congregations of Chelsea fans both in the square and across from the station - Estimate around 10,000 without tickets - although tickets from the 'UEFA family' are being sold on the street for over 400 euros. Benfica fans are getting the Europa League final started early. Hundreds have taken over a patch just outside the stadium with a DJ on a dance stage (sporting the Portuguese side's shirt) whipping them up into an frenzy... and that's four hours before kick-off.

He was unlucky not to complete his hat-trick and knock tHem out at hampden recently, maybe he'll be desperate for one this weekend to prove a point

It's the small things that BBC Scotland report that makes me wonder about them...here's one of them. December 2012. Bad weather. The beeb warn fans travelling to spl games to be wary of the conditions listing every game and what the travelling conditions will be like going to those games. Rangers were playing at Ibrox that weekend and it was predicted MORE fans would be at that game than ALL the spl games put together (that turned out to be the case). The beeb ignored giving safety advice to the biggest show in the country. That's suspicious.

Yes..according to Wiki Good question, I can't think of anybody

In what is one of the saddest stories you will hear in a long time, a man embarking on a fund-raising football dribble from America to Brazil has been knocked over by a pick-up truck and killed en route. http://metro.co.uk/2013/05/15/man-killed-dribbling-football-to-brazil-for-world-cup-3759684/?

Carlos Bocanegra edges towards Ibrox exit Carlos Bocanegra is likely to leave Rangers once he returns from his loan spell in Spain. The US international is one of Rangersâ?? highest earners. Offers for the 33-year-old would be listened to by the club. It is understood that clubs from the MLS, England and Europe are monitoring the situation. A move away from Rangers is expected to reignite his international career, having not been considered for selection since Rangersâ?? relegation to the Third Division. http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/sfl-division-three/jon-daly-rangers-deal-clinched-bocanegra-to-leave-1-2930041

If the Jambos start with a 12 point deduction and a weakened side then next seasons spl will have nothing at all going for it. Champions & Relegation issues will have been decided before a ball has been kicked. DOOMED spl.

Was that 'simulation' by wee Franco at 1.49?

FORMER Rangers hero Marvin Andrews is confident Nicky Clark can become a Light Blues star if boss Ally McCoist lands the prolific Queen of the South striker. Nicky Clark has already had talks with Ally McCoist The Ibrox gaffer has held talks with Clark about a free switch this summer after a stunning season for the Doonhamers that saw him top the Irn-Bru Second Division scoring charts with 38 goals and land a host of personal awards for his superb form. Andrews said "He will be a very good signing. I have played against him a couple of times and he is a very good player. "He has a real eye for goal and he would be a great signing if Rangers can make the deal go through. http://www.eveningtimes.co.uk/rangers/exclusive-nicky-clark-would-be-a-star-at-rangers-says-marvin-andrews-124299n.21076002?

I'm surprised the report didn't have this as the headline. Still it's early days, wait till he makes his début, the whole world will know about it.

First I've seen that...thanks.

Bocanegra dropped from US roster for qualifiers The United States heads into World Cup qualifiers against Costa Rica and Mexico with an inexperienced defense after dropping captain Carlos Bocanegra and learning eight players are injured or ill. Already without goalkeeper Tim Howard, the shaky U.S. back line got even weaker Monday when coach Jurgen Klinsmann said Timmy Chandler, Fabian Johnson and Danny Williams will miss the matches. The 33-year-old Bocanegra, the American captain since 2007, has lost his starting job with Racing Santander, a Spanish second-division team on its fourth coach of the season. Bocanegra, on loan from Glasgow Rangers, has not appeared in a game since Feb. 2. Klinsmann said he's had several conversations with Bocanegra and expects him to switch clubs at the end of the season. http://seattletimes.com/html/sports/2020587526_apsocwcupusroster.html?

What we need is entertainment, so I'd forget about strengthening the defence and buy in more attacking players and actually play an all out attacking game next season. I'd rather watch 4-3 5-3 and 6-3 games than the 0-1 1-1 and 1-2 drab encounters of last year