Match for the 2nd round of the Club World Cup at Lincoln Financial Field, in Philadelphia.
What We Know
- These two have never faced each other in the past.
- Flamengo are running a nine-game unbeaten streak in all competitions, winning seven and drawing two. They kept seven clean sheets in this span.
- Four straight wins in all competitions for Chelsea, nine in their last ten, keeping clean sheets in five games.
- Just one game with over 2.5 goals in Chelsea’s last six matches.
- Four straight Flamengo games ended without both teams scoring.
Betting tip Flamengo - Chelsea
This is a contest that can eventually decide the first place in the group between Flamengo and Chelsea. There is a significant talent discrepancy between the two, and the English side has the upper hand. Flamengo are a tough team and they will try to avoid defeat. Both teams want to avoid facing Bayern Munich in the next round, and Chelsea will have a leg up in that quest. Our pick is Chelsea to win.
- Betting tip: Chelsea win
- Odds: 1.80 (at the time of writing)
- Stake:6
Flamengo
Flamengo easily overcame a clearly inferior side in Esperance Tunis, 2-0. Flamengo took the lead in the 17th minute thanks to midfield standout Giorgian de Arrascaeta. The Uruguayan can’t stop scoring recently, scoring nine times in his last nine league games. Flamengo controlled the tempo of the game throughout and continued to create opportunities. Luiz Araujo scored a second goal to seal the deal, assisted by veteran midfielder Jorginho, a recent arrival from Arsenal who has also played for current opponents Chelsea.
They will compete with the latter for first place in the group stage, in front of thousands of Flamengo fans. Manager Filipe Luiz is expected to put his best lineup out there to face the Londoners. He himself featured for the Blues in his career, in the 2014-2015 season. He has created a compact and disciplined team that does not concede chances or goals easily, having gone three games with a clean sheet.
The last game was their 9th straight unbeaten, and they have scored at least twice in five of these games. They will face Los Angeles FC in the last game of the group stage, in Orlando.
Chelsea
Chelsea started off strong in the new FCWC with a 2-0 victory over Los Angeles FC. Manager Enzo Maresca made several changes ahead of that game and still saw his team come away with a comfortable win. Pedro Neto broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with an excellent solo effort, before Enzo Fernandez added a second in the 79th minute to seal the deal after coming in as a substitute.
Chelsea were able to finish the season strongly, winning four games in a row in all competitions. They have been able to score at will, scoring in 12 out of their last 13 contests. They have even improved defensively, having conceded just three goals in their last six games.
The starting eleven is expected to remain similar, without many changes. Enzo Fernandez would be vying for a starting spot over Romeo Lavia, and we might see a change at goal, with the Conference League starter Jorgensen over Sanchez.
In the third round of the group stage, they will face off against Esperance Tunis.
