Road to the Quarter-finals
Palmeiras
- Group Stage (Group A):
- 0-0 draw vs Porto
- 2-2 draw vs Inter Miami
- 2-0 win vs Al Ahly
– Finished top with 5 points, scoring 4 and conceding 2
- Round of 16:
- 1-0 extra-time win over Botafogo (Paulinho 100th-minute winner)
Chelsea
- Group Stage (Group D):
- 2-0 win vs Los Angeles FC
- 1-3 loss vs Flamengo
- 3-0 win vs Espérance de Tunis
– Finished second with 6 points, scoring 6 and conceding 3
- Round of 16:
- 4-1 extra-time win over Benfica (three goals in added time after a lengthy weather delay)
Team News
Palmeiras
- Suspensions: Gustavo Gómez (red card), Joaquín Piquerez (accumulated yellows) miss the quarter-final.
- Paulinho is being managed for a lingering leg issue; likely to feature off the bench.
- Estévão Willian makes his final appearance before joining Chelsea; fitness OK after full recovery from tibia stress fracture.
Chelsea
- Suspensions: Moisés Caicedo out after second yellow booking.
- Doubtful: Benoît Badiashile (crutches after coming off vs Benfica).
- Injuries: Wesley Fofana (hamstring surgery) ruled out; Mykhaylo Mudryk remains unavailable pending FA doping outcome.
- Returns: Nicolás Jackson available after serving two-match ban; Reece James back to lead the defense.
Key Players to Watch
Palmeiras
- Estévão Willian: electric winger, led tournament in take-ons; will want to impress future employers.
- Weverton: veteran goalkeeper, marshals the backline and crucial in knockout games.
- Vitor Roque: Brazilian youth international, direct running and link-up play in attack.
Chelsea
- Cole Palmer: creative No. 10, dictating tempo and unlocking deep defenses.
- Pedro Neto: in fine touch, scored in each knockout appearance to date.
- Andrey Santos: poised to fill the midfield gap left by Caicedo, excellent ball-recovery stats.
Tactical Battle
Palmeiras coach Abel Ferreira favours a compact defensive block, springing rapid counters through midfield overloads. His side absorbs pressure, forces turnovers in their half, then releases pacey wide attackers.
Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea prefer controlled possession, building patiently from the back. Full-backs tuck inside to create numerical superiority, while the midfield trio rotates to open passing lanes. Breaking through deep blocks will test Chelsea’s off-the-ball movement.
Set pieces could prove decisive: Palmeiras defend zonally with aerial strength, whereas Chelsea boast specialists in both delivery (Cole Palmer) and finishing (Jackson, Neto).
Prediction
Expect a cagey first half as both sides settle into their tactical shapes. Chelsea’s greater fluidity in possession and extra quality in transition should edge them ahead as the game opens up.
Palmeiras 1-2 Chelsea
A late winner from the Blues, exploiting a momentary lapse in Palmeiras’ compact block.
Looking ahead, the victor meets the winner of Fluminense vs Al-Hilal in Philadelphia.
