Lampard’s presence can lead Chelsea to Europa League glory

Frank Lampard became Chelsea’s all-time leading goalscorer with a crucial double at Villa Park as he all but secured Chelsea’s presence in next season’s Champions League.

The former West Ham man now sits on an impressive 203 strikes in 606 appearances, taking him past the legendary Bobby Tambling. The influential number eight has also laid on 124 goals for his team-mates in that same period, making him directly involved in 327 goals in his Stamford Bridge career.

Lampard’s appearance in the match against Aston Villa suggests that manger Rafa Benitez may opt to leave the England international in the stands when his team travel to Amsterdam to take on Benfica in the Europa League Final.

The English Outfit are 5/4 to take the win – a feat their boss has already achieved with Valencia in 2004 – and may need their iconic midfielder if they are to do so.

Lampard has been pivotal in Chelsea’s Europa League campaign this year, and it would be no surprise if he were to have a say against the Portuguese in the final.

His experience in continental competition could prove crucial: he has hit 14 goals in just 69 starts from the centre of the park.

The 34-year-old is no stranger to netting important goals against Benfica having driven home a penalty in the quarter-final victory over the Eagles en route to last year’s Champions League triumph.

He is 9/1 to open the scoring here, but with his place in the starting eleven doubtful after playing 90 minutes in the Midlands it may be worth looking at taking the same price on him notching last.

A goal from the Romford-born man at anytime in the fixture also looks an attractive proposition at 3/1.

Benfica suffered a gut-wrenching defeat to Porto that will most likely see them surrender the Portuguese title, and they may struggle to lift themselves here; they are difficult to back at 2/1.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing