Two European heavyweights square off in the Club World Cup Round of 16, as Chelsea face Benfica in what promises to be a captivating contest between two sides who arrive in confident form.

With both clubs chasing a place in the quarterfinals and a shot at international silverware, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Benfica – Eagles Taking Flight Again

Benfica’s 1-0 triumph over Bayern Munich in their final group match not only secured top spot in Group C but sent a message that they’re not just here to make up the numbers.

Back-to-back wins with a combined 7-0 scoreline, including a demolition of Auckland City, have silenced critics after a four-match winless run (D3, L1) leading into the tournament.

Defensive resilience and set-piece sharpness have underpinned their recent form.

The Eagles have scored in first-half stoppage time in two of their three Club World Cup (CWC) matches so far, often capitalizing on late-half lapses in concentration.

Goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin has also been a key figure, saving all six of the last shots on target he has faced, reinforcing their newfound solidity at the back.

Having lost all three previous meetings against Chelsea, including the heart-breaking 2013 UEFA Europa League final, Benfica will be out for revenge.

They haven’t reached a final of an international tournament since then, and under manager Roger Schmidt, the feeling is that they’ve never had a better shot.

Chelsea – Fresh Legs, Focused Minds

Despite finishing second in Group D behind Flamengo, Chelsea have impressed for large parts of this competition.

They bounced back from a 3-1 defeat to the Brazilians with a controlled 3-0 win over Espérance de Tunis, and with five wins from their last six games, the momentum is still firmly on their side.

A huge advantage for Chelsea could be squad freshness.

Enzo Maresca made eight changes to his starting XI in the last game, offering key players rest ahead of this round of 16 showdown.

Their form in the CWC has also shown tactical discipline, the Blues have scored before half-time in all three games and secured clean sheets in five of their last six victories across all competitions.

While Nicolas Jackson is unavailable due to an extended suspension following a red card against Flamengo, his absence could open the door again for Liam Delap, who opened his Chelsea account with a goal against Espérance.

The 21-year-old could be the surprise package in this game.

Head-to-Head History

• Chelsea 3–0 Benfica (overall H2H)
  
• Last met in the 2013 UEFA Europa League Final: Chelsea 2-1 Benfica
  
• All three prior meetings were won by Chelsea by a single-goal margin
  

Hot Stats and Trends

• Chelsea have opened the scoring before half-time in all 3 CWC matches.
  
• Benfica have scored in first-half stoppage time in 2 of their 3 CWC matches.
  
• Five penalties have been awarded across Benfica’s last five games.
  
• Five of Chelsea’s last six wins came with a clean sheet.
  
• Benfica are unbeaten in 3 CWC matches (W2, D1) and have conceded just once.
  

Players to watch

🔴 Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin

The Ukrainian shot-stopper has been in sensational form, keeping clean sheets in the last two matches and showing his value with six saves in his last six shots faced.

His reflexes could be key if Benfica are to weather Chelsea’s high-tempo attack.

🔵 Chelsea: Liam Delap

With Nicolas Jackson suspended, Delap has a huge opportunity to impress.

He broke his duck for the club in their last outing and brings a directness that may trouble Benfica’s backline.

His movement in the box and aerial ability could be decisive.

Tactical Insight

Benfica may opt for a compact mid-block setup, looking to hit Chelsea in transitional moments using the pace of Schjelderup and the creative vision of Di Maria.

Chelsea, meanwhile, are expected to dominate possession and use fullbacks like Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella to stretch the width, while Cole Palmer and Enzo Fernández operate as creative fulcrums between the lines.

The game could hinge on who wins the midfield battle, Benfica’s pressing against Chelsea’s ball control.

If Chelsea can break through early, it may force Benfica into a more open game, which could play into the Blues’ hands.

Potential Lineups:

Benfica: 4-2-3-1 – Trubin; Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Dahl; Sanches, Barreiro, Di Maria, Prestianni, Schjelderup; Pavlidis

Chelsea: 4-2-3-1 – Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Delap.

Where to watch: 

United Kingdom: DAZN (Free)

United States: DAZN (Free)

Canada: DAZN (Free)

India: DAZN (Free)

Australia: DAZN (Free)

Nigeria: SuperSports

Score Prediction: Benfica 1-2 Chelsea

Conclusion

Both teams are in good shape, but Chelsea’s depth, tournament pedigree, and greater variety in attack should give them the edge.

Expect a tight first half and the Blues to pull away late on.