The Club World Cup is entering the Round of 16 phase, and the meeting between Benfica and Chelsea highlights the high standard of the competition. Both teams are ambitious and aim to win their domestic leagues, although they didn`t achieve this last season. Strong performances in the Club World Cup will help them start the upcoming season successfully.
Chelsea is already actively integrating Liam Delap into the squad, and it`s paying off. After scoring his first goal for the club against Esperance, he will need to start again due to Nicolas Jackson`s suspension. Benfica achieved an impressive result by defeating Bayern Munich to win their group, but at this stage, there will be no easy matches. Angel Di Maria has been crucial to their success, and the team will need even more from him to continue their run in the tournament. Here are the key points, match viewing information, and more:
How to Watch Benfica vs. Chelsea
- Date: Saturday, June 28
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Location: Bank of America Stadium — Charlotte, North Carolina
Last Encounter
A considerable amount of time has passed since Benfica and Chelsea last met. Their previous match was in the 2013 Europa League. Chelsea won that game thanks to two assists from Juan Mata and a decisive stoppage-time goal from Branislav Ivanovic. This is truly a look back in time, considering Frank Lampard, now manager of Coventry City, was still playing in Chelsea`s midfield then. No player who started that match will participate in this one, but these teams do share a bit of history.
Expected Lineups
Benfica: Anatoliy Trubin, Sanyek Dahl, Nicolas Otamendi, Antonio Silva, Leandro Barreiro, Renato Sanches, Fredrik Aursnes, Kerem Akturkoglu, Gianluca Prestianni, Angel Di Maria, Vangelis Pavlidis
Chelsea: Filip Jorgensen, Malo Gusto, Benoiit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Liam Delap
Player to Keep an Eye On
Liam Delap, Chelsea: He has started this tournament excellently, scoring a goal and providing an assist. This will be Delap`s most significant test yet. He has settled in well after his move, and his familiarity with Enzo Maresca helps, but matches like this will show if he`s ready for Champions League football. Expectations will be high for the player wearing the number nine shirt at Stamford Bridge, but winning a trophy early in the season could significantly boost the young forward`s confidence. Even if Chelsea doesn`t win the Club World Cup, a strong run in the tournament will be very important.
Key Question
Is Chelsea Ready for the Champions League? The upcoming season is very important for Chelsea as they return to Champions League play under Maresca. The squad will need to be streamlined, as he won`t be able to use different teams for European competitions and the Premier League. This will be a test of his rotation skills and proof that he is the right fit for the long-term role at Chelsea. Matches like this one against Benfica are a preview of the season, even if Chelsea`s transfer campaign isn`t finished yet, which is why winning here is critical.
Prediction
Chelsea will control possession to contain Benfica, and Delap will score again. This match will be low-scoring, but the “Blues” won`t mind if they emerge victorious. Prediction: Benfica 0, Chelsea 1.
