Chelsea finds itself in an unexpected situation, fighting for their Club World Cup progression in the final group stage match despite being strong favorites initially. Enzo Maresca`s side must avoid defeat against Esperance de Tunis to secure a spot in the last 16.
This critical scenario arose after a disappointing 3-1 loss to Flamengo on Friday night. Nicolas Jackson`s red card during Flamengo`s impressive comeback at Lincoln Financial Field proved costly, allowing the Brazilian side to claim a deserved win and take the top spot in Group D. Jackson`s suspension puts additional pressure on striker Liam Delap, who struggled in his first full start for Chelsea. Coupled with Cole Palmer`s recent inconsistent form, Chelsea`s ability to find goals and comfortably beat their Tunisian opponents may be tested.
Esperance de Tunis secured their chance at a remarkable last 16 berth by defeating Los Angeles FC in their earlier match. The 34-time Tunisian champions have shown they are defensively solid, holding Flamengo to just one goal until the 70th minute in their eventual 2-0 loss. If they can successfully frustrate Chelsea`s attack early on, they might just create an opportunity for a surprise result.
Match Information
Date: Tuesday, June 24
Time: 9 p.m. ET
Location: Lincoln Financial Field — Philadelphia, PA
Odds: ES Tunis +850; Draw +400; Chelsea -333
Head-to-Head
This will be the first competitive match between Esperance de Tunis and Chelsea.
Predicted Lineups
ES Tunis: Bechir Ben Said; Mohamed Ben Ali, Yassine Merria, Mohamed Tugai, Amine Ben Hamida; Elias Mokwana, Onuche Ogbelu, Khalil Guenichi, Abdramane Konate; Youcef Belaili, Rodrigo Rodrigues
Chelsea: Robert Sanchez; Malo Guston, Tosin Adarbioyo, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella; Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo; Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto; Liam Delap
Player to Watch
Pedro Neto, Chelsea: In contrast to some of his attacking teammates, Neto has performed well in the Club World Cup so far. He has scored in each match and also provides a creative threat, demonstrated by his expected goals and assists statistics.
Storyline to Watch
Impact of the Heat:
A Heat Health Emergency has been declared in Philadelphia, with temperatures potentially reaching over 100 degrees. Although the match is scheduled for 9 p.m., forecasts predict temperatures will still be in the 80s with high humidity, conditions that could significantly impact both teams, particularly Chelsea. Manager Enzo Maresca may need to carefully manage player minutes, especially for those with recent muscle issues like Reece James.
Prediction
While the challenging weather conditions are a factor, Chelsea should still possess enough quality to win this match against ES Tunis without needing excessive effort in the heat. Predicted Score: ES Tunis 0, Chelsea 2.
Related Information
- FIFA Club World Cup 2025 schedule
- FIFA Club World Cup standings
- FIFA Club World Cup explained: Who`s playing, how teams qualified, schedule, prize money, odds, more.
