2013 UEFA Europa League Final vs Benfica
Amsterdam night sealed a unique back-to-back European glory.
The 2013 UEFA Europa League Final remains a crowning achievement in Chelsea FC's modern era, delivering the club's first title in Europe's secondary competition. Played at the Amsterdam Arena against Portuguese heavyweights Benfica, this match capped an improbable European campaign managed by interim boss Rafael Benítez, securing silverware just one year after lifting the Champions League.
- Competition
- UEFA Europa League Final
- Date
- May 15, 2013
- Venue
- Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam
- Opponent
- SL Benfica
- Result
- Chelsea 2-1 Benfica
- Key Scorers
- Juan Mata, Branislav Ivanović
Lore & Background
Played before nearly 50,000 spectators, the match was a grinding tactical battle. Juan Mata gave Chelsea control with an early composed finish in the eighth minute. Benfica refused to fold, dragging the game level through Óscar Cardozo's strike in the 61st minute. The deadlock held firm until stoppage time, when captain Branislav Ivanović rose above the defense to head home a corner from Eden Hazard, sealing a 2-1 victory and adding another European trophy to the Stamford Bridge cabinet.
In Their Own Story
The Amsterdam air was thick with anticipation as the clock ticked past ninety minutes. The scoreline sat at 1-1, and the tension was palpable in the Chelsea dugout. Eden Hazard stepped up to take a corner from the left, his delivery curling perfectly into the six-yard box. Amidst a scramble of bodies and desperate defensive headers, the Serbian giant Branislav Ivanović launched himself into the air. Time seemed to suspend as he connected with the leather, powering the ball past the goalkeeper. The roar that erupted from the travelling support was deafening, a sudden explosion of joy in a city far from London, cementing another chapter in the club's storied European legacy.
Reader's Guide
Held at Amsterdam Arena on May 15, the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final pitted Chelsea against SL Benfica. The match concluded with a 2-1 victory decided by Branislav Ivanović's late header. This triumph was historically significant for completing an unprecedented European double in consecutive years, following the Champions League win of 2012. It underscored Chelsea's resilience and ability to deliver on the biggest stages, cementing a unique period of success regardless of internal managerial changes.
Did You Know?
- This victory made Rafael Benítez the first manager to win both the UEFA Champions League and the Europa League with different clubs (Liverpool and Chelsea respectively).
- Branislav Ivanović's last-gasp winner is widely considered one of the most dramatic goals in the history of European finals.
- This win marked Chelsea's second major European trophy in two years, cementing a unique period of success for the club.
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