Jose Mourinho's return to Porto descends into CHAOS as objects are thrown at new Benfica boss and fights break out in the stands - days after warm Stamford Bridge welcome

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By TAMARA PRENN, SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER

Published: 12:58 BST, 6 October 2025 | Updated: 12:58 BST, 6 October 2025

Jose Mourinho was handed a rude awakening as he returned to another of his former clubs just days he was welcomed back with open arms at Stamford Bridge

The newly minted Benfica manager oversaw two spells of success with Chelsea over the last two decades, and despite moves to Premier League rivals Manchester United and Tottenham, Mourinho remains a well-liked figure in west London. 

Returning to familiar terrain with his new club for Champions League action, Mourinho was greeted with chants of his name before and throughout the clash, and acknowledged the warm welcome. 

The 62-year-old even helped cool tempers when visiting fans targeted their former player Enzo Fernandez when he was taking a corner, keen to play peacemaker

But the reception was far from cordial at his old club Porto - despite the manager previously helping them win their first and only Champions League trophy. 

This season's first O Clasico took place at Porto's Estadio do Dragao, and from well-before the clash, the atmosphere was a potentially intimidating one. 

Porto fans had no interest in welcoming back their former manager Jose Mourinho with open arms on Sunday

The 62-year-old had previously managed the club, helping them win the Champions League 

Home fans held up pictures of Mourinho's face with a red slash through it, with his name written above the image with his surname's endearment'-inho' left in lower case. 

Porto also created a tifo mocking his infamous nickname, with two huge banners reading: 'There is only one Special One - Futebol Clube Porto'. 

As tensions bubbled over, the manager was pelted with objects flung from above him. 

But the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan buff was unruffled, even stooping to pick them up off the pitch after full-time.

In the stands, stadium stewards and police were forced to intervene as both sets of fans clashed. 

The first-half had already seen seating chaos with hundreds of travelling fans unable to access the away stands due to what Benfica called 'unacceptable poor service' from the hosts in a statement calling for intervention from the league. 

But on the pitch, the battle was somewhat less intense, with both sides departing with one point when the match ended goalless. 

Porto defender Jan Bednarek placed the blame squarely at their opponents' feet by accusing Mourinho's side of not playing for a win after the final whistle.  

But this weekend fans were more interested in putting Mourinho in his place as they made their feelings about his 'Special One' moniker known

Fans clashed in the stands with police forced to intervene as tensions ran high in Porto

But the head coach looked unruffled in the dugout as he oversaw his side taking a point back to Lisbon

'They came here just to survive, just wanting to defend and slow the game down as much as possible for most of the match,' the former Southampton star said. 

'We did well, played a mature game, had our chances, and that was it. 

'We had an unlucky day, we deserved more, but that's part of football, we have to move forward, think positively, and build on this.

'Benfica came here looking for a draw, you could see that from the start, slowing the game down,' he added. 

'That's how they wanted to play; we have to respect that. 

'There were positive things. We have to do better in these moments to create chances and score goals.'

The reception bared some difference to one given to him in early September, when Mourinho was applauded as a guest of the club ahead of their match against Nacional.  

A draw on the road means that Mourinho has gone unbeaten in the Primeira Liga since his arrival at the club, with their sole defeat coming in the Champions League against the Blues in their 1-0 loss last week.   

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