Benfica vs. Chelsea: Preview, Predictions and Lineups | OneFootball

Chelsea face fellow Europeans Benfica in the last 16 of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday evening as they seek a place in the quarterfinal.

The Blues only finished second in Group D but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Instead of a battle with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, Benfica are their first knockout opponents of the tournament. Their defeat to Flamengo on Matchday 2 has saved them from an even more challenging last 16 duel.

Chelsea will be favourites for Saturday’s clash in Charlotte but can ill-afford complacency against their Portuguese opponents. Benfica topped Group C after beating Bayern in their final group game, with Boca Juniors the only side they failed to topple during the group stage. They have plenty of knockout experience via the UEFA Champions League and boast some eye-catching talents.

The winner of the upcoming battle will be rewarded with a quarter-final place against either Botafogo or Palmeiras.

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Benfica vs. Chelsea Head-to-Head Record (All Time)

Current Form (All Competitions)

How to watch Benfica vs. Chelsea on TV

Benfica Team News

Ángel Di María can cause Chelsea issues. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Benfica are expected to be without Florentino Luis for a third successive match after he injured himself in the opener against Boca. In better news, Andrea Belotti returns from suspension and adds to Bruno Lage’s attacking options.

Ángel Di María is joint top scorer at the tournament having netted thrice from the penalty spot and the veteran maestro will be keen to conjure up some magic. Andreas Schjelderup scored the winner against Bayern last time out and should take residence on the other flank.

Benfica Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea

Benfica Predicted Lineup vs. Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Trubin; Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Barreiro, Sanches; Di María, Prestianni, Schjelderup; Pavlidis.

Chelsea Team News

Liam Delap will lead the line again. / Caean Couto-Imagn Images

Nicolas Jackson remains suspended for Chelsea—although he will be available if they reach the last eight—and that means summer recruit Liam Delap will start up front. The Englishman scored his first Blues goal against Espérance de Tunis last time out.

Enzo Fernández assisted twice against the Tunisian side and should feature in midfield against his former club Benfica. Elsewhere, there are likely to be recalls for Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Moisés Caicedo, Levi Colwill and Reece James after they were handed rests by Enzo Maresca for the final group stage outing.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Benfica

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs. Benfica (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernández; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Delap.

Benfica vs. Chelsea Score Prediction

A repeat of the 2012–13 Europa League final might end in the same scoreline and outcome, which would be positive news for the Blues. They have won all three past meetings with Benfica and have the superior squad, both in terms of depth and individual quality.

Chelsea will be wary of capitulating as they did against Flamengo but they should have learned from their humbling at the hands of the Brazilians. Benfica are likely to cause them issues but the Blues should inch over the line and into the quarter-finals.

Prediction: Benfica 1–2 Chelsea

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