Palmeiras vs Chelsea Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025 FIFA Club World Cup | Quarter-Final

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Palmeiras have been very impressive throughout the FIFA Club World Cup as they now face UEFA Europa Conference League winners Chelsea in the quarter-finals.

Kick-off date/time:

How to watch on TV & online: UK – DAZN / US – DAZN

Palmeiras team news: Suspension issues

Palmeiras are having to deal with a couple of key suspensions in defence for this semi-final as Paraguayan centre-back Gustavo Gomez was sent off in the Round of 16, whilst Uruguayan left-back Joaquin Piquerez has picked up too many yellow cards. Chelsea-bound Willian Estevao is expected to start for Palmeiras.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Weverton; Giay, Rocha, Fuchs, Micael; Richard Rios, Emiliano Martinez; Allan, Mauricio, Estevao; Vitor Roque

Unavailable: Gustavo Gomez (Suspended), Murilo (Injured) Joaquin Piquerez (Suspended)

Questionable: 

Chelsea team news: Moises Caicedo out

As Nicolas Jackson returns from his two-match ban for receiving a straight red card against Flamengo, the Blues are now without Moises Caicedo due to suspension after he picked up too many yellow cards. Joao Pedro has been added to Chelsea's squad after his move from Brighton, but it is unlikely he starts for the Blues here.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; James, Lavia; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Delap

Unavailable: Moises Caicedo (Suspended)

Questionable: 

Key stats

• This is the second FIFA club competition match between Palmeiras and Chelsea. They previously met in the final of the competition now known as the FIFA Intercontinental Cup in February 2022 in Abu Dhabi. Chelsea lifted the trophy after a 2-1 extra-time win thanks to a 117th-minute Kai Havertz penalty. Romelu Lukaku had given the English club the lead (54) before Raphael Veiga equalised from the penalty spot ten minutes later.
• None of the Chelsea players that featured in that match are still at the club. Only unused substitute Trevoh Chalobah is in the Blues’ 2025 FIFA Club World Cup squad. In contrast, Raphael Veiga is one of five surviving starters in that 2021 final from Palmeiras who are competing at this tournament, the others being Weverton, Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez and Joaquín Piquerez. Current head coach Abel Ferreira was also in charge for that game.
• Palmeiras’s only other competitive match against an English club was a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United in the 1999 Toyota Cup/Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.
• Chelsea’s other two previous official encounters with Brazilian opposition both ended in defeat – 1-0 to Corinthians in the FIFA club showpiece final in 2012, and 3-1 to Flamengo on Matchday 2 of this competition in Philadelphia, the venue for this quarter-final.
• Palmeiras have lost only two of their last 14 fixtures in all competitions (W10 D2 L2).
• Palmeiras have kept five clean sheets in their last seven FIFA competition matches, including three in four outings at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
• Paulinho has scored in successive FIFA Club World Cup appearances for Palmeiras.
• Chelsea have won 11 of their last 13 matches in all competitions (W11 D0 L2).
• Chelsea have won six of their eight fixtures in FIFA club competitions.
• Pedro Neto has scored in his last three appearances at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™.
• Palmeiras winger Estêvão is set to join Chelsea after this tournament, having agreed a deal in the summer of 2024.
• Palmeiras midfielder Felipe Anderson scored 12 goals in 73 appearances for Chelsea’s London rivals West Ham between 2018 and 2021. His Premier League record against Chelsea was W1 D1 L1.
• Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández scored in Argentina’s 4-1 win at home to Brazil in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in March this year. Weverton and Estêvão were unused substitutes for Brazil.
• Chelsea have a Brazilian, former Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos, in their squad.

Palmeiras vs Chelsea prediction

Palmeiras have been very strong under Abel Ferreira for the last few years, and they have been difficult to beat and score against in this tournament, too. After an unbeaten group stage campaign, Palmeiras then edged past compatriots Botafogo by a goal to nil after extra-time in the Round of 16, courtesy of a Paulinho winner.

They now face a Chelsea side that haven’t been convincing at pretty much any stage in this competition, but they did eventually overcome Benfica by four goals to one after extra-time in the Round of 16, following a lengthy delay due to a weather suspension. They are continuing to spend on players off the field.

This was the final of the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup final, with Chelsea edging past Palmeiras, and a similar result would appear likely given the absentees in Palmeiras’ defence.

Palmeiras vs Chelsea tip: Chelsea to win & under 3.5 goals