Match Details
- Teams: Palmeiras vs. Chelsea
- Date: Saturday, July 5, 2025
- Time: 9:00 p.m. ET (2:00 a.m. BST, 10:00 p.m. BRT)
- Venue: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Competition: FIFA Club World Cup Quarterfinals
- Historical Context: Chelsea defeated Palmeiras 2-1 in extra time in the 2022 Club World Cup final, with Kai Havertz scoring the decisive penalty. This is their second meeting.
How to Watch
- TV Channels:
- Brazil: TV Globo, SporTV
- UK: Channel 5 (select matches)
- Streaming:
- Global: DAZN (free with registration, coverage starts at 8:00 p.m. ET)
- Brazil: CazéTV, DAZN
- US: Fubo, DirecTV Stream (for select markets carrying FS1 or similar channels)
- Live Updates: Follow Standard Sport’s live blog or VAVEL’s Live Match Centre for real-time updates.
- Note: Fans in geo-restricted regions may need a VPN (e.g., NordVPN or ExpressVPN) to access DAZN’s free stream.
Preview
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinal pits Brazilian giants Palmeiras against Premier League powerhouse Chelsea in a rematch of the 2022 final. Palmeiras, unbeaten in the tournament (W1, D3), topped Group A with a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami, a 2-0 win over Al Ahly, and a 1-0 extra-time victory over Botafogo, thanks to a 100th-minute goal by substitute Paulinho. Their defensive resilience, with three clean sheets in four matches, is notable, but they face challenges with suspensions to captain Gustavo Gómez and left-back Joaquín Piquerez, plus an injury doubt for centre-back Murilo.
Chelsea, the sole remaining English side after Manchester City’s exit, advanced with a 4-1 extra-time win over Benfica, overcoming a two-hour weather delay. Despite a 3-1 group-stage loss to Flamengo, the Blues have scored 10 goals in four matches, led by Pedro Neto’s three goals. However, they’re without midfielder Moisés Caicedo (suspended) and potentially centre-back Benoît Badiashile (injury doubt), with Roméo Lavia also questionable. New signing João Pedro, acquired from Brighton, could debut, adding depth to an already star-studded squad.
The “Estêvão Willian derby” adds intrigue, as the 18-year-old Palmeiras winger, set to join Chelsea after the tournament, faces his future club. Palmeiras’ compact, counter-attacking style under coach Abel Ferreira contrasts with Chelsea’s possession-heavy approach under Enzo Maresca, setting up a tactical battle.
Predicted Lineups
- Palmeiras (4-3-3): Wéverton (GK); Giay, Micael, Bruno Fuchs, Vanderlan; Ríos, Martínez, Mauricio; Allan, Vitor Roque, Estêvão
- Substitutes: Lomba, Naves, Mayke, Moreno, Paulinho, López, Thalys
- Notes: Gómez and Piquerez are suspended, with Micael and Vanderlan likely replacements. Murilo is doubtful, and Paulinho’s minutes are limited due to impending surgery.
- Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez (GK); Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; James, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Nkunku; Delap
- Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin, Andrey Santos, Dewsbury-Hall, João Pedro, Jackson, Guiu
- Notes: Caicedo’s suspension forces Fernández into a deeper role, with James potentially shifting to midfield if Lavia is out. João Pedro may debut off the bench, and Nicolas Jackson returns from suspension but may not start over Delap.
Head-to-Head Record
- Only Meeting: Chelsea 2-1 Palmeiras (Feb. 12, 2022, Club World Cup final, extra time)
- Chelsea’s recent loss to Flamengo (3-1) shows vulnerability against Brazilian sides, while Palmeiras’ defensive solidity (two goals conceded in four matches) suggests they can frustrate the Blues.
Form Guide
- Palmeiras: W (1-0 vs. Botafogo, ET), D (2-2 vs. Inter Miami), W (2-0 vs. Al Ahly), D (0-0 vs. Porto)
- Unbeaten in 11 matches across all competitions, with 10 clean sheets.
- Chelsea: W (4-1 vs. Benfica, ET), L (3-1 vs. Flamengo), W (3-0 vs. LAFC), W (2-0 vs. Esperance)
- Won 10 of their last 13 matches in 90 minutes.
Predictions
- Match Outcome: Chelsea are favored due to their superior squad depth and attacking firepower, with a 51.16% chance of winning in 90 minutes per Sportytrader’s algorithm (odds: -105). However, Palmeiras’ defensive discipline and counter-attacking threat, led by Estêvão and Allan, could push the game to extra time, as both teams did in their round-of-16 matches. A 1-0 Chelsea win is a likely scoreline, with a set piece or Cole Palmer’s creativity breaking the deadlock. Alternatively, a 2-2 draw leading to extra time is plausible, given Chelsea’s scoring average (2.5 goals per game) and Palmeiras’ ability to nick goals.
- Key Factors:
- Palmeiras’ depleted defense (missing Gómez, Piquerez, and possibly Murilo) may struggle against Chelsea’s attackers, particularly Neto and Palmer.
- Chelsea’s absences (Caicedo, potentially Badiashile and Lavia) could disrupt their midfield control, giving Palmeiras counter-attacking opportunities.
- Estêvão’s motivation to shine against his future club could be a game-changer for Palmeiras.
Betting Tips
- Under 2.5 Goals (-150): Five of the eight combined Club World Cup matches for these teams have had fewer than three goals. Palmeiras’ three clean sheets and Chelsea’s cautious build-up under Maresca suggest a low-scoring affair.
- Chelsea to Win (-105): Despite Palmeiras’ resilience, Chelsea’s depth and quality, with players like Palmer and Neto, should secure a narrow victory.
- Pedro Neto Anytime Goalscorer (+400): Neto has scored in all three of his Club World Cup appearances, including against Benfica, and his 57.1% shots-on-target ratio makes him a strong bet against Palmeiras’ weakened defense.
- Palmeiras or Draw (Double Chance, +125): Palmeiras’ unbeaten run and defensive solidity make them likely to at least force extra time, especially with Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities exposed by Flamengo.
- Bet Builder: Chelsea to win, under 2.5 goals, and Cole Palmer to score anytime (+700). Palmer’s 12 shots in three matches and penalty-taking role make him a prime candidate to decide a tight game.
- Palmeiras Over 4 Corners (+110): Palmeiras averaged 7.25 corners per game in the tournament, including 12 against Botafogo, and could exploit Chelsea’s conceded corners (e.g., eight vs. Flamengo).
Key Players to Watch
- Palmeiras: Estêvão Willian (two player-of-the-match awards, dynamic winger), Vitor Roque (leading the line), Mauricio (1 goal, 1 assist, 3.4 shots per 90 minutes).
- Chelsea: Pedro Neto (3 goals, 1.2 shots on target per 90), Cole Palmer (12 shots, likely set-piece taker), Liam Delap (2 goals in the tournament).
Sentiment and Outlook
Posts on X highlight Palmeiras’ defensive strength (three clean sheets) but note their weakened backline, while Chelsea’s attacking prowess (18 big chances created) is tempered by Caicedo’s absence and potential injuries. Fans expect a tight match, with some backing Palmeiras to frustrate Chelsea, as seen in their 3-1 loss to Flamengo. Chelsea’s favorable draw position, avoiding PSG and Real Madrid, gives them a clear path to the semifinals, but Palmeiras’ grit and Estêvão’s flair could make this a closer contest than the odds suggest. The winner faces either Fluminense or Al-Hilal, with Chelsea slightly favored to advance but needing to overcome Palmeiras’ resolute defense.
