Benfica v Chelsea – Line-ups, stats and preview
Benfica take on Chelsea on Saturday at the FIFA Club World Cup. Read the preview of the last-16 tie.
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Benfica v Chelsea match preview
Chelsea begin the knockout stage of their Club World Cup campaign against Portuguese side Benfica in Charlotte.
Enzo Maresca’s side qualified in second place in their group after beating Los Angeles FC and Esperance de Tunis either side of a defeat to Flamengo.
Benfica won Group C and were unbeaten, drawing with Boca Juniors and beating Bayern Munich and Auckland City.
Benfica have never won the Club World Cup while Chelsea lifted the trophy in 2021, beating Palmeiras in the final.
Benfica v Chelsea team news
Benfica are without Alexander Bah and Manu Silva while Forentino Luis has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury and is a doubt.
Striker Andrea Belotti returns from suspension.
Round of 16: Locked in. 🔐#FIFACWC pic.twitter.com/p0Lf6XIH6r
— FIFA Club World Cup (@FIFACWC) June 27, 2025
Chelsea are without striker Nicolas Jackson – who is banned – so Liam Delap is likely to continue up front.
Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto are also expected to return.
Benfica v Chelsea expected line-ups
Benfica: Trubin; Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Barreiro, Sanches; Di Maria, Prestianni, Schjelderup; Pavlidis
Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Delap
How to watch Benfica v Chelsea
Prediction
Chelsea’s strength in depth will prove to be too much for a Benfica side making their Club World Cup debut. Expect Liam Delap to continue his fine start in blue and score in a straightforward enough win.
Benfica 0-2 Chelsea