Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte is set to host a can't-miss clash between two European heavyweights in the Round of 16 at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. It's Benfica vs. Chelsea, a showdown more than 10 years in the making.
The last time these sides crossed paths, the Blues edged out the Eagles 2-1 in the second leg of the 2011-2012 Champions League quarterfinals. Now, history gets a new chapter, who takes it this time?
Benfica comes into this one riding a wave of momentum. After an epic comeback to draw 2-2 with Boca Juniors despite being two goals and a man down, they crushed Auckland City 6-0 and capped off their group stage campaign with a gritty 1-0 win over Bayern Munich thanks to a late strike from Norwegian youngster Andreas Schjelderup. That result sealed top spot in Group C and knocked the German giants off the summit.
Chelsea's route was bumpier. After cruising past LAFC 2-0 in their opener, the Blues stumbled hard, first falling 3-1 to Flamengo, then suffering a surprising 3-0 defeat at the hands of Tunisia’s Espérance. Those back-to-back setbacks meant they just scraped through in second place in Group D.
As for the odds, Parimatch tips Chelsea as the narrow favorite. A Blues win pays 2.19, while their odds to progress within regulation time sit at 1.61. Benfica’s victory stands at 3.42, and a draw after 90 minutes is going at 3.50.
The Sporting News presents odds and predictions to bet and make the match more exciting.
Benfica vs. Chelsea prediction, tips, bet builder and odds for Club World Cup clash
Enzo Fernandez to score or assist: 3.50 (Puntit)
All eyes will be on Enzo Fernandez in this one. The Argentinian midfielder and Chelsea captain at just 24 is no stranger to high-pressure matches, and with Moises Caicedo handling the dirty work behind him, Enzo is free to pull the strings up front. He’s already chipped in with two assists during the group stage (both against Esperance) and found the net against LAFC. Don’t forget—he also has history with Benfica, and we know how often the "ex-player curse" shows up in knockout games.
Both Teams To Score: 1.80 (Puntit)
This one feels destined to deliver fireworks. Chelsea has scored in every game so far and will lean on new signing Liam Delap, who found the net against Esperance. On the other side, Benfica boasts a lethal front line led by Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis and Argentine maestro Angel Di Maria, who’s already bagged three goals in the tournament. With attacking talent on both ends, goals are almost a guarantee in this European thriller.
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Benfica vs. Chelsea predicted lineups, team news
Striker Andrea Belotti is back from his two-game suspension, so Bruno Lage will have to decide between him and Vangelis Pavlidis to lead the line. They also get left-back Alvaro Carreras from an early yellow card ban, so he fills back in for Samuel Dahl.
Gianluca Prestianni will need to be assessed after being withdrawn early in the second half amidst the scorching Charlotte heat, while 37-year-old Angel Di Maria may need a rest ahead of a potential fourth straight start in a short span.
Orkun Kokcu, who was furious at being substituted against Auckland and had a row with the coach, and after reports that the issue has been put to bed, he came off the bench for a half-hour against Bayern.
- Benfica predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Trubin (GK) —Barriero, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl — Aursnes, Sanches — Di Maria, Prestianni, Schjelderup — Belotti.
Injured: Florentino.
Suspended: None.
Enzo Maresca used the group stage to tinker and experiment with combinations, but he should switch back to his best lineup in the knockouts with huge prize money on the line. After Filip Jorgensen got a chance in goal in the group finale, Robert Sanchez should return between the sticks.
With Nicolas Jackson still suspended for his red card against Flamengo, Liam Delap is likely to continue up front in the striker role. The new Chelsea signing scored his side's second goal in the 3-0 win over Esperance to conclude group stage play.
The only Chelsea absences are Omari Kellyman and Wesley Fofana who not with the group as they recover from long-term injuries.
- Chelsea predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Sanchez (GK) — James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella — Caicedo, E. Fernandez — Neto, Palmer, Madueke — Delap.
Injured: Fofana, Kellyman.
Suspended: Nicolas Jackson.
Benfica vs. Chelsea predicted score and most likely results
Here's some of the most likely results for this Club World Cup match-up, according to Parimatch.
| Result | Odds |
|---|---|
| Draw 1-1 | 6.63 |
| Chelsea 2-1 | 8.95 |
| Draw 0-0 | 10.39 |
| Chelsea 2-0 | 9.89 |
| Benfica 1-0 | 9.40 |
| Benfica 2-1 | 15.83 |
How to watch Benfica vs. Chelsea in Club World Cup action
- Date: Sunday, June 29
- Venue: Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina
- Time: 1:30 a.m. BST
- TV/Streaming: DAZN
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