Remarkably, Joao Pedro<\/a>, 24, was dismissed in stoppage time for the hosts. It followed Robert Sanchez\u2019s red card against Manchester United and Trevoh Chalobah\u2019s red card against Brighton, both of which ended in defeats.<\/p>\n Joao Pedro is shown a second yellow card. The Blues are down to ten.<\/p>\n \ud83d\udd35 1-0 \ud83d\udd34 [90+6] #CFC<\/a> | #UCL<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 30, 2025<\/a> <\/p>\n View Tweet<\/p>\n Pedro, who didn\u2019t start on Tuesday, picked up his first booking almost immediately after entering the action on the hour mark. He received a yellow card for colliding firmly with Benfica\u2019s Enzo Barrenechea from a throw-in. Afterwards, he was sent off in the closing stages for a high boot, even though he didn\u2019t actually connect with Benfica\u2019s Leandro Barreiro.<\/p>\n It means that Pedro will be unavailable to face Ajax at home in the next Champions League match on 22 October.<\/p>\n With Liam Delap out injured<\/a>, Pedro has been the first-choice option at striker. Tyrique George led the line unsuccessfully against Benfica, while Marc Guiu hasn\u2019t been picked since returning from his loan at Sunderland.<\/p>\n According to Mario Melchiot<\/a>, Pedro and the rest of the Chelsea team need to be a lot smarter in matches following the worrying pattern of red cards. The fact they have three dismissals on their previous four matches across all competitions must concern head coach Enzo Maresca.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes you have to be smart about things,\u201d Melchiot told BBC\u2019s Radio 5 Live Breakfast<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYou had two minutes before the end when Pedro gets the red card. The game before that was [Trevoh] Chalobah, the game before that before that was [Robert] Sanchez. The last two people can say were moments in games where things happen but Joao Pedro yesterday has to be smart.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s your second yellow card with two minutes to go. This is nothing to do with it being necessary. Sometimes it\u2019s necessary and you have to take one for the team and you don\u2019t care.<\/p>\n \u201cThis one wasn\u2019t having to take one for the team \u2013 it was so far away from his goal. You have to be a little bit smarter. Regardless of you playing in the Champions League, the emotions are going, you have to think.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t pick up cards like that. The whole team have to be smarter because things like this cannot happen to this team. You miss key players now. You already have one striker injured [Liam Delap] and now you\u2019ll have one striker suspended. What are you going to do next?\u201d<\/p>\n After a blistering start to his Chelsea career, Pedro has started to struggle recently, especially because he\u2019s heavily relied upon when Cole Palmer isn\u2019t on the pitch.<\/p>\n As you can see below, Pedro hasn\u2019t been shooting or scoring in his recent club appearances.<\/p>\n FixtureMinutes playedGoalsTotal shotsChelsea 1-0 Benfica2900Chelsea 1-3 Brighton9000Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea9000Bayern Munich 3-1 Chelsea9000Brentford 2-2 Chelsea7901Joao Pedro in his previous five Chelsea appearances across all competitions via FOTMOB<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Benfica](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-2238390883-1024x663.jpg\")
Photo by Mike Hewitt\/Getty ImagesMario Melchiot urges Joao Pedro to think smarter<\/p>\n![\"Mario](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/GettyImages-930683258-1024x744.jpg\")
Photo by Robin Marchant\/Getty Images for “Phenoms” Joao Pedro has gone goal-shy<\/p>\n