It may not be as illustrious as the Champions League final, but Wednesday's Europa Little league final between Chelsea and Benfica comes full of plenty of intriguing storylines.
With regard to Chelsea, the Europa League final is the opportunity to win a minute major European trophy in a couple of years, as the team won the Champions League last season and may become the first club to hold on to both trophies too.
For Benfica, it is the possibility to hoist their first Euro trophy since 1962 inspite of reaching six finals after that. It may also be the opportunity to lessen the blow from a major disappointment this saturday after Porto defeated him or her, 2-1, dropping Benfica to second up for grabs with just a game to get.
Chelsea fans never definitely wanted Rafa Benitez taking over as interim broker, and they've never really warmed up to him throughout the growing season. But with a Winners League spot essentially clinched and some Europa League title hanging in the balance, he's certainly conducted his job.
And as Phil McNulty involving BBC writes, Benitez would like activities like to remind Chelsea fans of this fact with one past parting gift on Friday:
If many Chelsea fans don't remember Benitez's short beginning reign at Stamford Bridge once she has gone, the Spaniard are at least determined to go away a trophy behind in reference to his name alongside it.
Chelsea's supporters will possibly not wish to recall Benitez by using any fondness, but you suspect the following most divisive of managers might take added pleasure in giving them no option by giving you success.
Benitez has made most of his reputation on a one-off European set-piece, proving a very good strategist while taking Gatwick to two Champions League finals - therefore was clear this position suits him as this individual faced the media inside Amsterdam.
Cardozo is actually magnificent for Benfica this season, with 24 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions for the Portuguese side. He's been particularly clinical within this tournament, scoring six goals in eight Europa League appearances.
Cardozo isn't some sort of creator, but given any sum of space in or for the box and he can be truly lethal. He's a threat within the air, deadly on establish pieces, he can finish with either foot is a dangerous poacher who finds ways to put the ball on the net.
Benfica is a very strong defensive team and ought to be keep Chelsea's dangerous attack at bay, but they may not be able to maintain a clean bed-sheet. That makes Cardozo's performance increasingly vital for the power team, and makes him a player the Blues must be aware of at all circumstances.
With Eden Hazard out as a consequence of injury and Demba Ba ineligible to help you play (he's cup-tied since he played inside tournament with Newcastle earlier inside year), Frank Lampard should be a facilitator and potentially a goalscorer for Chelsea.
With John Mikel Obi questionable to play, he must drop deeper into the midfield and stay a presence defensively. And with John Terry questionable to boot, the veteran will have to be Chelsea's leader on built.
In other words, Lampard are going to fill a few roles with a number of Chelsea's key players possibly out of this match. But Chelsea's scoring standard and likely captain for the game is certainly as many as the task.
I really, really like this Benfica aspect. They play as some team, have more talent than folks not familiar with the Portuguese Liga realize and won't be intimidated by Chelsea. Not whatsoever.
But the Blues contain a roster full of game enthusiasts that won a Champions League title numbers, a manager in Benitez which led Liverpool to several Champions League finals along with true difference makers in Lampard, David Luiz and Juan Mata who are able to take over any performance or change the momentum which has a flash of brilliance.
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