The FIFA Club World Cup group stage has concluded, with some fun surprises among the knockout qualifiers. Benfica and Chelsea were not among the surprises. Now, the two face off on the first day of the Round of 16 knockout stage.
It projects to be an intriguing tactical matchup. Benfica’s ability to stay home and defend was displayed in a 1-0 victory over Bayern München in their last match. The Portuguese back line is full of youth surrounding Nicolás Otamendi. Unc has still got it; the 37-year-old picked up a goal and an assist in the group stage. They’ll be put to the test against this Chelsea side.
The Blues seem to be intent on signing every attacker in the world. Cole Palmer is the group’s superstar, but has plenty of support. Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Marc Guiu, and Tyrique George are all in the squad as attacking options for the Club World Cup. At full tilt, they can pile up the goals in a hurry. Their depth enables the attacking options to go all-in while on the pitch. It’s one heck of a challenge for Benfica.
Chelsea is favored at +105 on the moneyline for this contest on the DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s dig into a prediction, pick, and best bet for this match.
Prediction for Chelsea vs. Benfica
It’s no surprise that Chelsea is the heavy favorite in this one. After finishing fourth in a very competitive Premier League this year, they’re one of the favorites to go deep in this tournament. But it would be a mistake to count out Benfica simply because the Portuguese league isn’t elite.
This is a great and balanced Benfica squad. With little turnover in the roster, their identity hasn’t changed. They’ll defend hard and set up chances for a good front three. Ángel Di Maria has been here before, Kerem Akturkoglu had a great year, and Vangelis Pavlidis finishes off the chances created for him. Orkun Kökcü, perhaps their best talent outside of the back line, is a fantastic connector between the defense and attackers.
If this Benfica defense holds, their front six can create enough chances to keep this one competitive. Bayern found this out the hard way. This is more of a toss-up than the odds would indicate.
Pick for Chelsea vs. Benfica
Full Time Draw (+240)
When Benfica has its way, the game turns into a slog. In the last contest against Bayern, they only held 27% of possession after an early goal. It was a bus parking that would make any public school driver jealous.
They’ll look for the same formula in this one. An early strike before sitting deep and keeping the ball in front of them would be ideal. I doubt Benfica can pull back-to-back upsets, but their frustrating style can push this one to extra time. I’m playing the draw and looking forward to some bonus footy on a Saturday afternoon.
