Benfica vs Chelsea tips and predictions: Blues face showdown with Portuguese giants

Benfica state of play

The stage is set for Benfica, one of the surprise packages of the 2025 Club World Cup, as they look to build on their memorable 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich by eliminating Chelsea in the last 16.

As seen in their triumph at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, the sweltering conditions didn’t hinder the Portuguese giants’ game, although they do have goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s heroics between the sticks to thank. 

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Now, another fixture in Charlotte against Chelsea is up next for Bruno Lage’s side, as they continue to enjoy their maiden experience in the Club World Cup and set up a potential quarter-final meeting with either Palmeiras or Botafogo. 

A team containing experienced world-class operators like Angel Di Maria, who is leaving at the end of the tournament to return to his boyhood club Rosario Central, Benfica are certainly no pushovers. 

Lage’s team have scored in each of their past 18 matches and will be confident of extending that streak in this knockout showdown.

Chelsea state of play 

After recording a convincing 3-0 victory over ES Tunis to finish runners up in Group D, Chelsea will be in a buoyant mood heading into their encounter with Benfica. 

Enzo Maresca’s side bounced back from their 3-1 defeat to Flamengo in style, securing a big win over Tunisia’s top club without a number of key players. 

Read: Which teams will advance to the Club World Cup quarter finals?

Despite being no match for their swaggering Brazilian opponents in their second game of the competition, Chelsea are showing some encouraging signs, particularly in attacking areas. Winger Pedro Neto continues to cement himself as a key man for the west London club.

Now, however, the knockout stage brings a far tougher test for Chelsea, who dominated possession with a staggering 74% in their previous outing.  

Key talking point: Delap to thrive once again as Chelsea’s main focal point?

After opening his Chelsea account in the win over ES Tunis, Liam Delap will be eager to find the back of the net once again against Benfica. 

Like the Blues, the Primeira Liga side have kept two clean sheets in the three games they’ve played and could easily stifle Chelsea’s dangerous forward players. 

However, after being rested for the ES Tunis fixture, Cole Palmer and Neto are set to feature alongside the 22-year-old in attack, so Delap could feast here. 

Signed from Ipswich Town for £30 million earlier this month, the young striker will be desperate to nail his audition to lead Chelsea’s forward line this season. This, especially with Nicolas Jackson still suspended following his red card against Flamengo.

With a do-or-die clash against Benfica looming, Delap has great stature to make himself a constant nuisance to opposition defenders, This next match is the perfect opportunity to endear himself further to the Chelsea faithful and propel the club into the quarter-finals of the revamped competition.

FIRST’s top tip for Benfica vs Chelsea 

The Blues have won their last three meetings against the Portuguese side. We could see the same outcome once again in a potentially high-scoring affair.

Chelsea to win and both teams to score - 14/5 with Betway 

Extra tips 

With Liam Delap off the mark and ready to build on his first strike for the Blues, another goal for the former Manchester City academy star and a Chelsea win feels on. 

Liam Delap to score and Chelsea to win - 29/10 with BetMGM

Another tempting option for punters is surely Angel Di Maria to bag another goal, potentially from the penalty spot. The Argentine already has three penalties to his name in the competition. 

Angel Di Maria to score anytime - 17/4 with BetMGM 

Team news

For Benfica, Alvaro Carreras is back after serving his one game suspension against Bayern Munich. 

Meanwhile, Alexander Bah and Manu Silva are still out with cruciate ligament injuries, while both Florentino Luis and Tomas Araujo are also on the treatment table.

As for Chelsea, after being rested against ES Tunis, Palmer, Felipe Caicedo, Robert Sanchez, and Marc Cucurella should all be restored to the starting line up. Reece James, who missed the game through illness, could also return. 

However, both Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman remain on the sidelines with long-term injuries. 

Benfica vs Chelsea predicted line-ups: 

Benfica: Trubin; Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Barreiro, Sanches; Di Maria, Prestianni, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis (4-2-3-1) 

Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandes, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Delap (4-2-3-1)

Form guide (all competitions) 

Benfica: WWWWDDLDWW

Chelsea: WWWLWWWWLW

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Odds correct at the time of writing.