The FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16 promises a thrilling all-European clash as Benfica take on Chelsea at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, June 28. Kick-off is set for 9:00 PM BST, with the match broadcast live on DAZN. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance in the group stages, but this knockout encounter will test their mettle under pressure. Benfica topped Group C with an unbeaten run, including a stunning 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich, while Chelsea secured second place in Group D after a convincing 3-0 win against Esperance Tunis, despite an earlier setback against Flamengo.
With a quarter-final spot against either Palmeiras or Botafogo at stake, this high-stakes battle between the Portuguese giants and the English Premier League side is set to be a tactical chess match, with both teams boasting attacking firepower and defensive vulnerabilities. Historical encounters favor Chelsea, who have won all three previous competitive meetings, including the 2013 Europa League final, but Benfica’s current form suggests they could pose a significant challenge.
Prediction
This match is likely to be a closely contested affair, with both teams capable of producing moments of magic in the final third. Benfica’s resilience was evident in their group stage, where they recovered from a 2-0 deficit against Boca Juniors to draw 2-2, followed by a 6-0 rout of Auckland City and a disciplined 1-0 win over Bayern Munich, thanks to Andreas Schjelderup’s early strike and goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s heroics. Their high-pressing, attack-minded approach under Bruno Lage has seen them score in 18 consecutive matches, with veteran Angel Di Maria rolling back the years with three penalty goals in the tournament. However, their aggressive style can leave gaps at the back, which Chelsea could exploit.
The Blues, managed by Enzo Maresca, showed dominance in possession against Esperance (74%) and have attacking threats like Pedro Neto and Liam Delap, who scored his first Chelsea goal against the Tunisian side. Yet, their 3-1 loss to Flamengo exposed defensive frailties, particularly in transitions, and the absence of Nicolas Jackson due to suspension could limit their attacking cohesion. Given Chelsea’s historical edge and squad depth, they are slight favorites, but Benfica’s form and defensive solidity make an upset possible. A tight game is expected, with Chelsea likely to edge it 2-1 in regulation time, capitalizing on their clinical finishing through Delap and Cole Palmer’s creativity. However, a draw after 90 minutes, potentially leading to extra time or penalties, would not be surprising given Benfica’s knack for grinding out results.
Possible lineups
Benfica are expected to field a strong side, with Alvaro Carreras returning from suspension to bolster the left-back position, potentially replacing Samuel Dahl. Injuries to Alexander Bah, Manu Silva, and Florentino Luis will force Lage to rely on his core group, with Renato Sanches likely to continue in midfield after recovering from a minor fitness issue. The experienced duo of Nicolas Otamendi and Antonio Silva will anchor the defense, while Angel Di Maria, with three goals in the tournament, and Vangelis Pavlidis, who scored against Auckland City, will lead the attacking charge. A possible Benfica lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation is: Trubin; Aursnes, Silva, Otamendi, Carreras; Barreiro, Kokcu; Di Maria, Prestianni, Akturkoglu; Pavlidis.
For Chelsea, Maresca is set to recall key players rested against Esperance, including Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, Reece James, and Marc Cucurella. Liam Delap will lead the line in the absence of the suspended Nicolas Jackson, with Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke providing width. Tosin Adarabioyo, who scored against Esperance, could retain his spot alongside Levi Colwill in defense. A possible Chelsea lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation is: Sanchez; James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Delap. Wesley Fofana remains sidelined with a thigh injury, and Mykhailo Mudryk is unavailable due to a doping suspension.
Betting tips
The betting markets reflect the tight nature of this contest, with Chelsea favored at +110 to win in 90 minutes, while Benfica are priced at +250, and a draw is at +230. Given both teams’ attacking output—Benfica scoring nine goals and Chelsea six in the group stage—backing Both Teams to Score (BTTS) at 3/4 (Bet365) is a solid option, as both sides have shown defensive vulnerabilities, with Chelsea conceding three against Flamengo and Benfica leaking two against Boca Juniors. Over 2.5 Goals at 19/20 (Bet365) also holds value, considering the goal-heavy trends in their group matches (Benfica’s games averaged 3.67 goals, Chelsea’s 3.0).
For goalscorer markets, Liam Delap to score anytime at 7/5 (Bet365) is appealing, given his recent form and role as Chelsea’s focal point in Jackson’s absence. Similarly, Angel Di Maria to score anytime at 9/4 (BoyleSports) is worth considering, as the Argentine has been a consistent threat, particularly from penalties. A riskier but value-driven Bet Builder could combine Chelsea to win, BTTS, and Delap to score at around 11/4 (Bet365), reflecting Chelsea’s slight edge but acknowledging Benfica’s scoring streak. For those favoring a cautious approach, Benfica Double Chance (win or draw) at 4/5 (Bet365) offers good value, given their unbeaten run in 16 matches inside 90 minutes. Responsible gambling is advised, and bettors should use tools like deposit limits to stay in control.