Palmeiras vs Chelsea Tips & Predictions - Chelsea set for Club World Cup semis

It's a rematch of the 2021 FIFA Club World Cup final, where Chelsea edged out Palmeiras 2-1 after extra-time. It promises to be another close contest, with the Brazilian side unbeaten across their four games this competition, while Chelsea picked up the pace with a 4-1 dispatch of Benfica in the R16 - although they did need extra-time to complete the victory.

All up, I think Chelsea are good odds at $2.05 to prevail here. They find themselves on the weaker (at least on paper) side of the draw, with either Al Hilal or Fluminense waiting in the semi-finals. When you get to this stage of the competition, you want to win it, so I can see Chelsea going all out from here on. The Blues have won six of their last seven games and have scored after half-time in those six fixtures, so those are the two plays for this encounter.

As mentioned, just the one previous meeting between the pair, with Chelsea prevailing 2-1 after extra-time in the 2021 Club World Cup final.

It's been a brilliant tournament for Palmeiras, who have gone unbeaten across their four games and now have nothing to lose ahead of this R16 showdown.

Palmeiras have only conceded two goals in the competition, but they did admittedly have one of the weaker groups, with FC Porto, Inter Miami and Al Ahly.

It was an all-Brazilian clash in the R16, with Palmeiras edging Botafogo 1-0 after extra-time.

Paulinho has become something of a super sub for Palmeiras lately - he has six goal contributions in his last five appearances (G3, A2) - all of which came from off the bench.

Joaquín Piquerez and Gustavo Gómez are both sidelined through suspension for Palmeiras.

Chelsea haven't really set the competition on fire so far, but they've got the job done and are now the clear favourites to reach the final from this section of the draw.

Enzo Maresca's side suffered a shock defeat to another Brazilian side in Flamengo in the group stage, but they secured their progress with comfortable wins to nil over Los Angeles FC and Esperance Tunis.

The Blues then overcame Benfica 4-1 in a rain-delayed R16 contest, with Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall scoring in extra-time.

Neto has been in great form, scoring in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.

Moisés Caicedo is out suspended for Chelsea, while defender Benoît Badiashile is also in doubt through injury.