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Just eight teams remain in this year’s FIFA Club World Cup as we move on to the quarterfinals. Friday’s slate wraps up with an exciting matchup between Palmeiras and Chelsea.
Catch kickoff at 9 PM ET, but only after analyzing my picks for the game to decide whether they’re something you want to fade or follow!
As the Brasileiro Serie A progresses throughout the 2024/2025 season, Palmeiras sit at 4th place with 22 points and a 7-1-3 record after 11 games played with 1 in hand. They progressed to the Round of 16 against Universitario in the Copa Libertadores, and the team has fought hard in this unforgiving club World Cup, as they now take on Chelsea in the quarterfinals.
Matchday 1 concluded with a 0-0 draw against FC Porto, and while the team struggled to find the back of the net, they scored a 2-0 victory on Matchday 2 against Al Ahly. Their final group stage game saw a 2-2 draw against Inter Miami, allowing them to edge 1st place in Group A. Their Round of 16 match was a close call, ending 1-0 in favor of the Brazilian side over Botafogo, but it went to extra time.
Over 11 games played in their domestic season, four players, including Facundo Torres, Jaoquin Piquerez, Jose Manuel Lopez and Vitor Roque, have scored 2 goals apiece. In the Club World Cup campaign, Paulinho has 2, while Richard Rios and Mauricio each have 1 assist to their names. This game won’t be easy for the Brazilian side, as they come up against a well-ironed Chelsea team.
Chelsea fought hard during the 2024/25 English Premier League season to finish in 4th place on the ladder with 69 points and a 20-9-9 record, solidifying a spot in next year’s UEFA Champions League. On top of that, the squad earned their first-ever UEFA Conference League title, and could very well be on their way to earning their 2nd ever Club World Cup trophy, where they defeated their current opponent, Palmeiras, 2-1 in the 2021 final.
Chelsea initiated their tournament run with a crucial 2-0 victory over LAFC. Their next match, however, saw a 3-1 defeat to Flamengo, before the English side bounced back on matchday 3 with a 3-0 win over ES Tunisia. Then, in the Round of 16, Chelsea experienced a close call game that ended 1-1 in the dying minutes of regulation before the squad went on to net 3 goals in extra time for a vital 4-1 victory over Benfica.
Cole Palmer had a most impressive Premier League season this year, scoring 15 goals and 8 assists, while teammates Nicolas Jackson (10 goals and 6 assists) and Noni Madueke (7 goals) made an unmatched effort to the cause. Enzo Fernadez finished the season with 7 assists, and he currently leads the Club World Cup assists charts with 2 to his name. However, Pedro Neto has had an impeccable start with 3 goals scored so far.
Chelsea is no stranger to these types of international tournaments, and with a well-seasoned squad on the pitch, I expect Cole Palmer to net his first goal of the tournament and give Chelsea the win to move on to the semis.
It’s a full-on rematch from the 2021 Club World Cup final, where Chelsea took the throne in a 2-1 victory. Palmeiras will likely have this fact on their minds, fueling their efforts as they look to take down the seasoned English side. Despite how solid Palmeiras have looked this season, Chelsea has the most goals scored out of any team in the tournament with 10 so far, and their last win against Benfica was truly an eye-opener.
All things considered, Chelsea’s midfield and offense will surely be the cause for victory in this matchup, with Cole Palmer likely to score his first goal of the tournament, especially if a penalty is conceded by Palmeiras.
Liam has been a major sports fan and soccer player for over a decade, with a particular focus on major top-level soccer leagues, including the EPL, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and MLS. He has written numerous promotional articles for various top sportsbooks and continues to publish historical and factual sports articles covering the NFL, MLS, NHL, MLB, EPL and more.