Palmeiras vs. Chelsea: Club World Cup Quarterfinals Preview

The Club World Cup quarterfinals continue, and this time we’ll take a look at the only matchup between a South American and European team: Palmeiras and Chelsea.

Palmeiras comes into this match unbeaten, having just defeated fellow Brazilian side Botafogo 1-0 in extra time.

Chelsea, meanwhile, also needed extra time against Benfica, although the final result was more comfortable than expected, ending in a 4-1 victory.

Club World Cup Quarterfinals: Palmeiras vs. Chelsea Betting Odds and Info

Why Bet on Palmeiras?

Palmeiras wants to make history in this Club World Cup. Despite some surprises, they’ve reached the quarterfinals unbeaten, with two wins and two draws—although one of those wins came in extra time.

Their quarterfinal opponent was Botafogo, and the result in regular time was identical to their meeting on the first matchday of this year’s Brasileirão: 0-0. Eventually, Palmeiras won 1-0 in extra time thanks to a stunning solo goal by Paulinho.

Throughout the match, ‘Verdão’ was the better team and deserved the win—just as they did against Porto in their opening game —so improvement is still needed in the attacking department. Vitor Roque hasn’t been the forward they need. On the bright side, although Estêvão has yet to score or assist in the tournament, he looked much more involved against Fogão.

The team’s standout performer has been midfielder Richard Ríos. The Colombian has played nearly every minute of the tournament, only being subbed off in the 87th minute versus Porto. The 25-year-old is reportedly attracting interest from several European clubs, and his market value has undoubtedly risen in recent days.

On the downside, head coach Abel Ferreira will be missing some key players. Captain and center-back Gustavo Gómez was sent off for a foolish foul, and with Murilo out injured, his replacement becomes a serious concern. Additionally, left-back Joaquín Piquerez is suspended due to yellow card accumulation. There’s also concern around forward Paulinho, who didn’t train on Tuesday, though reports suggest it was just a precautionary rest.

Why Bet on Chelsea?

Chelsea was stunned in the group stage of this tournament after a 3-1 loss to Flamengo. However, that defeat turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as they finished second in the group and were matched up against Group C’s leader—which ended up being Benfica, not Bayern— giving them an easier opponent on paper.

In the Round of 16, the ‘Blues’ were the better side but struggled to build a significant lead. In the 64th minute, defender Reece James opened the scoring with a free kick that benefited from a major mistake by Anatoliy Trubin, who had been one of Benfica’s standout players up to that point.

Chelsea failed to capitalize on several chances, and in stoppage time (90+3′), the referee, assisted by VAR, awarded a penalty for a handball by Malo Gusto. Ángel Di María converted to level the score and send the game into extra time.

The match quickly turned in Chelsea’s favor when Gianluca Prestianni, who had been booked in the 90+6 minute, received a second yellow just two minutes into extra time (92′), reducing Benfica to 10 men. The English side took advantage immediately, with Christopher Nkunku scoring. Later, as Benfica pushed forward, Chelsea exploited the space and added two more through Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

On the positive side, Pedro Neto continues his excellent form, scoring in all three of his appearances, while Cole Palmer had his best game of the tournament, showing true leadership.

Manager Enzo Maresca will not be able to count on Ecuadorian midfielder Moisés Caicedo, who is suspended due to yellow card accumulation—a significant absence. On the bright side, striker Nicolas Jackson returns after serving a two-match suspension following his red card against Flamengo.

Final Betting Analysis: Palmeiras vs. Chelsea

It’s shaping up to be a great match between two strong teams. Chelsea has already faced a Brazilian side in this tournament and lost, but Palmeiras presents a different playing style. Both teams have shown weaknesses when it comes to finishing the many chances they create, so we believe the game will end in a draw. If they go to penalties, be careful with Weverton.

The odds at Gambyl Exchange favor Chelsea, with their Moneyline at +112, while Palmeiras sits at +287, and a draw is at +238.

These two teams met in the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup final, which ended 1-1, although Chelsea won in extra time with a penalty from Kai Havertz in the 117th minute (2-1). On the English side, only Trevoh Chalobah remains from that squad, although he didn’t play that day. As for the Brazilians, Weverton, Marcos Rocha, Raphael Veiga, Gustavo Gómez, Joaquín Piquerez, Mayke, and Murilo are still with the team, although the last two did not feature in that match.

Go for a draw in the Moneyline. If you bet $100 at +238, you will gain $238 for a total payout of $338.

Palmeiras vs. Chelsea Betting Pick: Draw