Chelsea vs. Palmeiras: Fierce rivals

The clash between Chelsea and Palmeiras will kick off the FIFA Club World Cup quarter-finals and promises to be incredibly exciting.

The fact that both Chelsea and Palmeiras are missing key players is a notable highlight of this quarter-final match. Whichever team can overcome this obstacle will have a much better chance of winning.

Chelsea secured a 4-1 victory over Benfica to advance to the next round, but the price paid by "The Blues" was quite high. They had to endure 120 minutes of extra time, and the match was extended by nearly four hours due to bad weather, making it difficult for the English team to fully recover.

The biggest loss is that midfielder Moises Caicedo has accumulated enough yellow cards and will be sidelined for the match against Palmeiras. This Ecuadorian star is truly the heart of Chelsea's game, having the most ball recoveries in the league (20 times), the most effective tackles (12), and being superior in one-on-one duels (22).

Without Caicedo, Chelsea's midfield is significantly weakened. Difficulties await Enzo Maresca's team, despite "The Blues" still being considered superior in many aspects, including their consistent form with 5 wins in their last 7 matches.

Chelsea have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals and beyond. (Photo: FIFA)

On the other side of the pitch, Palmeiras had just endured a grueling 120 minutes to eliminate fellow Brazilians Botafogo. Physical exhaustion was inevitable, especially considering Brazilian clubs had to play continuously in the domestic league and the Copa Libertadores before traveling to the US. Furthermore, Palmeiras were sidelined with captain Gustavo Gomez and left-back Joaquin Piquerez both absent due to accumulating two yellow cards, while center-back Murilo's participation was uncertain.

The last time the two teams met was in the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup final, which Chelsea won 2-1 after extra time. However, Palmeiras is now different, more confident, with a more solid defense and many outstanding players, including Estevao - who will join Chelsea immediately after this tournament. The 18-year-old star has been involved in 16 shots (8 shots, creating 8 scoring opportunities) - the most in the Palmeiras squad so far this season.

After the early elimination of the two "giants," Man City and Inter Milan, Chelsea was rated as the top contender for the championship by Opta's supercomputer system, with a higher chance than both PSG and Real Madrid. The Blues' draw is relatively easy, guaranteeing them a chance to win the title, but first, they need to overcome Palmeiras.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/chelsea-palmeiras-ky-phung-dich-thu-19625070321484868.htm