Two managerial heavyweights will clash on Wednesday as José Mourinho’s Benfica welcome Antonio Conte’s Napoli to the Estádio da Luz in gameweek six of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League phase.
This will be a special occasion for everyone in attendance as it could potentially mark another unforgettable encounter between two of the greatest technical minds to grace the dugout.
A heated head-to-head would be a big understatement
It will be the first time since Mourinho and Conte have met since May 2018. In conclude that particular chapter, Conte was celebrating at the sound of the final whistle as Eden Hazard’s 22nd-minute penalty helped Chelsea lift the 2017/18 FA Cup at Wembley Stadium.
However, it hasn’t always been an elegant, stylish and sophisticated match-up, with Mourinho and Conte exchanging some harsh past words during their time together in the Premier League.
You would think I was lying if I mentioned some of the comments, including remarks made towards fixing matches in Italy, a motion Mourinho was suffering from dementia, and someone being referred to as a clown.
The famous and arguably infamous managerial feud began in Serie A in 2010 when Inter Milan were held to a 1-1 draw by Conte’s Atalanta. The attention then switched from Italy to England during their respective tenures as Manchester United and Chelsea managers.
Between 2017 and 2018, the ‘Special One’ and Conte met five times across all competitions.
The final score line in English football read three wins for Conte and two for Mourinho.
Conte’s three wins came via a 1-0 FA Cup success in February 2017 and two victories in the Premier League, respectively 4-0 and 1-0. In the opposite dugout, Mourinho celebrated two wins in the top flight: 2-0 and 2-1.
If you are not familiar with Mourinho’s ongoing war of words not just with Conte, but with the other half of football, what matches and headlines have you watching and reading. Take for example, the ‘Special One’ not skipping a beat with Benfica referee blow-up in his very first match in charge of his new club.
Advantage to Conte and Napoli on paper
Benfica had ended up on the losing side in four of their opening five 2025/26 Champions League phase. But finally got themselves on the three-point board by beating Ajax a couple of weeks ago.
Conte will be licking his lips at the Portuguese’s lack of success across this season’s competition.
Coupled with the fact that As Águias haven’t won at the Estádio da Luz in three matches. Conte will surely also know in the back of his mind that Napoli have beaten Benfica in three of their four all-time European head-to-head encounters (L1).
Considering both teams are currently outside of the automatic qualification places, Napoli sit in the play-off round, while Benfica are three points adrift of those positions. It wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see fireworks on Wednesday, not only on the pitch, but also potentially in the dugout between Mourinho and Conte.
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