Chelsea Faces Tricky Benfica Test in Club World Cup Round of 16

Chelsea Faces Formidable Benfica Test in FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is heating up, and one of the most anticipated Round of 16 matchups pits English giants Chelsea against a surging Benfica. Despite being considered favorites, Chelsea will need to be at their best to overcome a Portuguese side that has defied expectations in the group stage. This Saturday, June 28th, at 9:00 PM (GMT+1), all eyes will be on this high-stakes encounter.

Benfica’s Surprise Dominance

Benfica has been one of the tournament’s standout performers, unexpectedly topping a tough group that included European powerhouse Bayern Munich and Argentine stalwarts Boca Juniors. Under the guidance of coach Bruno Lage, they secured an impressive seven points, highlighted by a pivotal 1-0 victory over Bayern. While some might argue Bayern wasn’t at full strength, Benfica’s current form is undeniable, and they’ve shown they’re a force to be reckoned with. Their disciplined defense and potent attack make them a dangerous opponent for any team.

Chelsea’s Path and Potential Challenges

Chelsea, meanwhile, navigated their group with two wins and a single loss, finishing second behind Flamengo. While not a flawless group stage performance, this result ironically landed them in a potentially more favorable bracket, opening a clearer path to the semifinals. However, before looking too far ahead, manager Enzo Maresca’s side must first overcome the formidable challenge posed by Benfica, who are playing with significant confidence.

Head-to-Head History Favors Chelsea

Historically, Chelsea has held the upper hand against Benfica, boasting a perfect record of three wins in their last three encounters. Most notably, the Blues emerged victorious in the 2012/13 Europa League final against the Portuguese outfit. On paper, Chelsea also possesses a stronger squad with greater depth and talent. While Benfica is enjoying a purple patch, the sheer quality and youthful exuberance of the English side are expected to prevail.

Key Player Watch

Keep an eye on players like Delap, who has been integrating well into the Chelsea squad, and the dynamic attackers from both sides who have shown a knack for finding the net.

Match Prediction: Goals Galore Expected

Both teams have displayed impressive attacking prowess recently, each netting 11 goals in their last five matches. Furthermore, the last two encounters between these clubs saw a total of three goals each. With an array of talented forwards, expect an open game where both teams actively seek to gain an early advantage, potentially leading to at least three goals in the match.

Corner Kick Forecast

Benfica has consistently earned at least six corner kicks in four of their last five games. Chelsea, not to be outdone, averages 4.8 corners per game over their last five outings. Despite two of their last three head-to-head matches having only eight corners each, the attacking nature of this upcoming fixture suggests we could see nine or more corners.

Cards on the Horizon

Benfica’s aggressive and tactical play has resulted in an average of three cards per game in their three group stage matches. Chelsea has also accumulated six yellow cards and one red card in the tournament so far. Given these statistics and the high-stakes, knockout format, anticipate a fiercely contested match with a minimum of five cards shown.

Predicted Score: Benfica 1-2 Chelsea

Team News and Expected Lineups

Benfica Injury Report: Araujo, Bah, Florentino, and Manu are sidelined with injuries. Sanches remains a doubt for the match.

Chelsea Injury Report: Castledine, Fofana, and Kellyman are out due to injury. Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended.

Predicted Starting XIs:

• Benfica: Trubin; Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Kokcu, Barreiro; Di Maria, Prestianni, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.
• Chelsea: Jorgensen; James, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Gusto; Caicedo, Enzo, Palmer; Madueke, Delap, Neto.

Form Guide & Head-to-Head

Benfica Recent Form (Last 5 Matches):

• Wins: 2
• Draws: 2
• Losses: 1
• Goals Scored: 11
• Goals Conceded: 6

Chelsea Recent Form (Last 5 Matches):

• Wins: 4
• Draws: 0
• Losses: 1
• Goals Scored: 11
• Goals Conceded: 4

Head-to-Head (Last 3 Meetings):

• Benfica: 0 Wins
• Chelsea: 3 Wins