The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup has already proven to be a landmark edition – one that has combined tactical nous, star power and the global depth of club soccer like never before.
With the semi-finals approaching, teams are now potentially two games away from lifting the prestigious Club World Cup trophy, and establishing themselves as the undisputed best club on the planet.
Sport Preview’s Ethan Pitts looks at the first semi-final between Fluminense and Chelsea, with money still to be made towards the end of this competition.
Chelsea preview and form
Entering the competition under the guidance of Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have carried the weight of expectation as one of European soccer’s premier representatives – and so far, they have indeed lived up to the hype.
Despite a humbling loss at the hands of Flamengo in the group stages, Chelsea managed to qualify to the knockout rounds – finishing second.
Displaying a blend of a renewed identity and resilience, the Blues have put in two stellar displays on their route to the semi-finals – beating both Benfica and Palmeiras respectively.
Maresca’s side come into this game as the overwhelming favourites – best priced to win at 4/6 (Betfair).
And when you analyse the riches between both sides, it’s very easy to see why Chelsea are very rightly seen as the potential victors.
With a squad of both youth and experience, Chelsea have shown they are not just favourites to get to the final, but also act as a serious threat to win the competition as a whole.
Despite being favourites, Chelsea do have a plethora of injuries and absentees coming into this game.
Both Liam Delap and Levi Colwill miss out due to an accumulation of yellow cards, whilst injuries to Reece James and Benoit Badiashile may deem them unable to start come Tuesday evening.
The Blues are, however, boosted by the return of Moises Caicedo, who has finished his suspension and will almost certainly return to their midfield.
Fluminense preview and form
South American champions Fluminense have emerged as one of the tournament’s greatest underdogs, overcoming group-stage doubts and defying expectations to reach the Club World Cup semi-finals.
Establishing themselves as this competition’s ‘giant killers’ – the Brazilian based side have overcome the likes of Inter Milan and Al Hilal respectively to face Chelsea.
Fluminense’s daring run has captivated soccer fans from across the globe.
Backed by veteran guidance and unwavering faith, ‘Fluzão’ are two games away from one of the sport’s most memorable achievements.
Renato Gaúcho’s side are boosted by the return of key defender Rene, who returns to the side from suspension and is expected to reclaim his spot in the starting XI.
However, Fluminense will be without both Juan Pablo Freytes and Mathues Martinelli – who scored the side’s winner against Al Hilal in the quarter-final, after both received their second yellow cards of the tournament in their recent games against the Saudi giants.
There’s no doubt that the Brazilian side are the massive underdogs coming into this game, but it appears the occasion does not faze this team, who will not be awed by what awaits them.
Chelsea vs Fluminense: Predicted line-ups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Nkunku, Pedro
Fluminense (3-5-2): Fabio, Ignacio, Silva, Rene, Xavier, Hercules, Bernal, Nonato, Fuentes, Arias, Cano
Marc Cucarella to be booked – 14/5 (BetMGM)
With a mouthwatering clash ahead, it’s likely that the winner will be decided by who wins the battle between Fluminense’s Jhon Arias and Chelsea’s Marc Cucarella.
Arias has proven to be one of the standout performers at this competition so far, combining a mix of both South American flair and a dynamism to his game that has led to opponents being powerless to stop him without fouling.
This is anchored by the number 21’s statistics of being fouled all tournament – winning 12 free-kicks for his side at an average of over two per game.
Despite Cucurella being one of the best defensive left-backs on the planet, Arias is by far a more dominant physical presence than the Spaniard and may lead to Cucurella having to pull down the Colombian.
Cucurella has been a bit of a foul-committing magnet in recent games for the Blues, with eight fouls in his last three games – averaging just below three a game.
The last two left-sided defensive players Arias has played against – Renan Lodi and Alessandro Bastoni, have both been booked, and I’m predicting this pattern to continue with Cucurella being on the receiving end of a booking – best priced at 14/5 on BetMGM.
Both teams to score and Chelsea to qualify – 7/4 (bet365)
Both sides come into this fixture in exemplary form in front of goal, and it’s hard to see either defence being able to keep a clean sheet within 90 minutes of football.
Fluminense have scored eight goals throughout this tournament so far, and have scored four goals in the knockout stages.
Chelsea have scored a ridiculous 12 goals so far in the tournament – averaging over two goals a game, led by the likes of Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto.
These statistics lead me to believe that a selection involving both teams to score at 21/20 (bet365) is more than viable for Tuesday’s clash.
Adding onto that selection will be Chelsea to qualify.
Despite the Brazilian side already producing two shock defeats so far in the tournament, I believe that Chelsea have too much firepower both on and off the pitch over the course of potentially 120 minutes.
If you’re a fan of score-betting, I find incredible value at either a 2-1 Chelsea win at 15/2 (Betway) and a 3-1 Chelsea win – best priced at 14/1 when using vBet.
Therefore, to conclude this selection I’ll be taking both teams to score and Chelsea to qualify at 7/4 when using bet365.
