Fluminense vs Chelsea: Club World Cup Match Preview, Odds & Predictions

In Tuesday's Club World Cup semi-final, Premier League giants Chelsea will face Fluminense, the only South American club remaining, after two victories on the road to global glory.

With a spot in the final on the line, the Blues will face off against Palmeiras, while Flu will face off against Al-Hilal, two Asian powerhouses. They will meet in New Jersey.

Previous Matches and Head-to-Head

Chelsea have won four of their five matches in the Club World Cup, advancing them to the semi-finals. This is part of a winning streak that includes a European title and qualification for the UEFA Champions League next year. The Blues defeated Palmeiras in Friday's quarterfinal match, with Cole Palmer scoring the game-winning goal and Agustin Giay contributing an own goal. Enzo Maresca's squad had previously advanced to the round of 16 by defeating Benfica, a Portuguese club.

Chelsea is aiming to complete a cup double after winning the Conference League in their penultimate game before flying to the USA. They were Club World Cup champions in 2021 and are within touching distance of another final at FIFA's top competition. After a midseason collapse almost derailed Maresca's first season as manager, the Blues are confident in their ability to overcome Thiago Silva in the last four games and go to a final against Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.

Fluminense, on the other hand, has different intentions for Tuesday's semi-final. They seized the lead with Martinelli's stunning finish when Rio and Riyadh clashed in Orlando. Fluminense advanced to the knockout round as Group F runners-up, unbeaten in 11 matches, with five of their past seven games resulting in clean sheets. Fluminense has scored half of its eight goals in the US after the 70th minute, while Thiago Silva's senior defense has allowed only one goal in the second half.

Fluminense x Chelsea Team News

Since Liam Delap and Levi Colwill received yellow cards in the quarterfinal and will be sidelined for Tuesday's match, Chelsea is likely to make substitutions from the starting lineup that faced Palmeiras.

Joao Pedro made his debut for the Blues, but Nicolas Jackson, who had been out for two games due to suspension, was not in the lineup; thus, Pedro, a Brazilian, is likely to start up front in place of Delap, with Tosin Adarabioyo filling in for Colwill.

It is uncertain if Captain Reece James and Romeo Lavia will be able to play in New Jersey due to injuries received in warm-ups. Meanwhile, midfield pivot Moises Caicedo is expected to start after serving a one-match suspension. Jamie Gittens is not qualified as a newcomer.

Juan Pablo Freytes and Martinelli are absent due to bans for Fluminense; Hercules, a substitute who has scored goals, may start up front in Martinelli's absence.

Renato Gaucho has used a back three in the knockout stages, with captain Thiago Silva (40 years old) with Freytes and Ignacio flanking him. However, this formation might be altered if Thiago Silva is ruled out with a nose ailment. Silva will play against his previous team.

The front line for Flu should be headed by seasoned striker German Cano and offensive talisman John Arias, who has been instrumental for his club so far in terms of shots, opportunities, and dribbles completed.

Our Predictions

Chelsea to win @ 1.70 on Sky247.ng

By perseverance and extensive experience, underdogs Fluminense have remained in the competition for a lot longer than their supporters may have thought, but a spot in the final could still be slipping through their fingers. The Blues should ultimately prevail, even if it takes longer than expected, due to their deep squad and history of success in the knockout stages.

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