Palmeiras v Chelsea: Club World Cup preview

Chelsea are the only Premier League team left in the Club World Cup and they will be hoping to reach the semi-finals at the expense of Brazilian side Palmeiras at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday.

The Blues have already faced Brazilian opposition during the group stage and suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Flamengo before recovering to progress and then see off Benfica 3-0 in the last-16.

The Alviverde are unbeaten in the tournament to date, having won two and drawn two, with their round of 16 tie seeing them edge out fellow Brazilians Botafogo 1-0 thanks to an extra-time strike from Paulinho.

Palmeiras v Chelsea betting preview

Defensive absentees hamper Verdão

Palmeiras finished top of Group A but were far from convincing in doing so, being held to a goalless draw by FC Porto before beating Al Ahly 2-0 and needing two late goals to claim a 2-2 draw with Inter Miami.

They conceded just two goals across their three group games and their defensive strength was on display again in the last-16 when they kept Botafogo at bay through 120 minutes of action.

That solidity must have come as a relief to long-serving Portuguese head coach Abel Ferreira, who had seen his side beaten 2-0 by Flamengo and 2-1 by Cruzeiro in their final two Serie A games before the Club World Cup.

However, Ferreira will have to make changes to his backline, with Paraguayan Gustavo Gomez and Uruguayan Joaquin Piquerez both ruled out due to suspension, with Argentinian Agustin Giay and Brazilian Vanderlan expected to step in.

These two teams have met just once before, but that was in the final of the 2021 Club World Cup, when an extra-time Kai Havertz goal gave the Blues a 2-1 victory, and Palmeiras are 17.00 to exact revenge with an AET win this time around.

Teenage forward Estevao Willian will be more eager than most to impress, as he leaves the Brazilians to join Chelsea as soon as the tournament is over and he is 5.00 to score at anytime against the Londoners.

Maresca has attacking options to ponder

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca has decisions to make in attack for the showdown in Philadelphia, with new signing Joao Pedro available to feature and Nicolas Jackson having completed his two-match suspension.

Brazilian Joao Pedro - who started his career with Fluminense - recently completed a move from Brighton and could be handed a Blues debut straight away, having scored 19 Premier League goals for the Seagulls during his two seasons with the south coast club.

His arrival and the return to the fold of Senegal frontman Jackson could be a welcome boost for Maresca, with Pedro Neto a doubtful starter following the tragic death of his former Wolves and Portugal team-mate Diogo Jota.

Neto has been in fine form at the CWC, scoring in each of the three games he has featured in, but he will be left to make his own mind up about whether he faces Palmeiras.

In defence Maresca is likely to select Tosin Adarabioyo if Benoit Badiashile is ruled out due to a knock, while in midfield Romeo Lavia is an injury doubt and Moises Caicedo is a definite absentee due to suspension.

The Italian tactician will be confident that he has the options at his disposal to get the job done, with the Blues having lost just two of their last 13 games in all competitions, and they are 1.50 to qualify for the semi-finals.

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Palmeiras v Chelsea odds

Palmeiras - 4.00
Draw - 3.40
Chelsea - 1.95

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.