The Portuguese winger – who scored against tonight’s opponents in the Club World Cup last 16 – grew up watching major European games between these two clubs with his Benfica-supporting father, and can’t wait to be part of a Champions League encounter against the Lisbon giants.

'I remember the European final that Benfica played against Chelsea, and the Champions League games as well, and it’s unbelievable when I remember that,” he says. “For us in Portugal, and for the Benfica fans, it was huge because they got to the final.'

After a summer in which he won the Conference League and the Club World Cup with Chelsea, and the Nations League with Portugal, Neto is hungry for more success, and believes he is in the right place, with an ambitious young Blues squad around him.

'With this generation that we’ve had since last year we have been doing really well,' he says. 'We have been learning a lot and I am really proud to be part of a team that grew as much as we grew in just one year, because the club changed a lot as well. It’s like a feeling of motivation as well as pride to be part of this group.'

There are plenty of links between Chelsea and Benfica, not least Jose Mourinho, who recently took the reins at the Estadio da Luz.

We take a close look at the stories of two men who made a big impact with both clubs, with a deep dive into the career of Ramires, and a retrospective on John Mortimore, who won the League Cup with Chelsea and several trophies as manager of Benfica.

Meanwhile, ‘Over Land & Sea’ – our world tour of nations that have influenced Chelsea – stops at Portugal, naturally, and we take a look at the key figures from the Iberian nation to have stopped by Stamford Bridge.

There’s all the info you need on our opponents and the latest from around the club, with columns from Enzo Maresca, Reece James, Sonia Bompastor and our Academy coaches, not to mention the stats and facts that matter so far this season.

Be sure to pick up a copy from the programme sellers around the stadium, or order online from our official publications partner, Reach Sport.