Flamengo vs Chelsea tips and predictions: Jackson to make his mark amid Delap battle

Flamengo state of play

Flamengo, managed by ex-Chelsea defender Filipe Luis, kicked off their Club World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win against Esperance de Tunis.

Giorgian de Arrascaeta and Luiz Araujo were on target either side of the break for the 2022 Copa Libertadores winners, who will expect to qualify for the knockout stage. 

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It continued the Brazilian side's fine form and they head into this match unbeaten in their last nine matches. 

There's a familiar face in Flamengo's flock as former Chelsea midfielder Jorginho, a starter in the Blues' 2021 Champions League final triumph, was signed on the eve of the tournament. 

Chelsea state of play

Chelsea face their stiffest test of the Club World Cup group stage and this match should decide who progresses as Group D winners. Manchester City and Real Madrid might be favourites but these two sides will have a big say in who wins the Club World Cup this summer.

Enzo Maresca's team already have three points on the board after a 2-0 victory against LAFC at a half-empty Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday. 

Pedro Neto opened the scoring in the first half before summer signing Liam Delap stepped off the bench to assist Enzo Fernandez's 79th-minute goal. 

Chelsea are chasing a fifth-consecutive victory and Maresca will hope a few more fans are in attendance after blasting the lack of supporters at their opener as "strange". 

Key talking point: Will Maresca unleash Delap from the start?

"The good thing about Liam is he knows the way we want to play so the process is quite quick," Chelsea's boss said after Delap's debut against LAFC. 

It's fair to say the new boy laid down a marker in his battle with Nicolas Jackson to be first-choice striker. Maresca's comments indicate he could be pitched into the starting XI sooner rather than later. 

The smart money would be on Delap establishing himself Chelsea's main man through the middle. 

Read: Backing both teams to score? Our Club World Cup prop bets are in!

But Jackson, to his credit, made his mark against LAFC, providing a brilliant pass to Neto for the Portuguese winger's goal. 

The Senegalese striker has been a divisive figure in his two seasons at Stamford Bridge yet appears to have Maresca's trust meaning Delap might have to wait for Chelsea's final group game to start.

FIRST’s top tip for Flamengo vs Chelsea

Pick: Nicolas Jackson to score or assist - 6/5 (Betway)

The striker had a header cleared off the line after creating Chelsea's opener against LAFC and boasts a decent return of 19 goal involvements in 35 appearances this season. 

Extra tips

Pick: Draw or Chelsea and under 2.5 goals - 5/4 (Betway)

Chelsea will expect to win but Flamengo are dangerous and the double chance offers protection. 

It's unlikely to be a high-scoring affair as the Brazilian side have kept seven clean sheets in their last eight games and the Blues have conceded one goal in their last six. 

Team news

Despite a collision with Marc Cucurella forcing him off against LAFC, Moises Caicedo could feature. The Ecuadorian’s expected to have a new partner in midfield as Fernandez is in contention to start.  

Flamengo's Jorginho is likely to feature against his old club and former Juventus defender Alex Sandro is pushing to return after missing the first match through injury. 

Flamengo vs Chelsea predicted line-ups 

Flamengo: Rossi; Varela, Ortiz, Pereira, Sandro; Pulgar, Jorginho; Gerson, De Arrascaeta, Araujo; Pedro (4-2-3-1)

Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson (4-2-3-1)

Form guide (all competitions) 

Flamengo: LDWWDWWWWW

Chelsea: WWWWWLWWWW

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Odds correct at the time of writing.