Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
The third round of the Club World Cup group stage brings Esperance and Chelsea head-to-head this Wednesday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Here’s a bet on the outcome of this clash with an attractive odds value.
Match preview
Tunisian side Esperance never ceases to surprise, and this tournament is no exception. Kanzari’s men opened with a frustrating yet expected loss to Flamengo, but bounced back in the second round by clinching a crucial three points against Los Angeles. That victory has given the North Africans a genuine shot at a historic berth in the Club World Cup round of 16 — now it all comes down to whether they have the stamina and composure to halt ambitious Chelsea.
It’s worth noting that Esperance rarely wins at the CWC, but they always fight to the final whistle: out of eight matches in the tournament, the Tunisians have won only two in regulation time. Still, their defense is consistently tenacious — this team concedes few and can contain high-caliber opponents thanks to discipline and organization. Their recipe for success against the English side is simple: stay compact and wait for their chance.
London’s Chelsea kicked off the tournament with a confident win over Los Angeles, but then unexpectedly stumbled against Flamengo, losing a key battle for first place in the group. That setback left a bitter aftertaste and cost them center forward Jackson, who was sent off and will now miss the decisive match. Nevertheless, the squad’s quality and tactical versatility keep Chelsea as clear favorites in this matchup.
Enzo Maresca knows full well that Esperance are no pushovers — the North Africans defend deep and rarely allow opponents’ attacks to flourish. The Blues will look to strike a balance: dominate possession without exposing themselves to rare but dangerous counterattacks. It’s important to remember that Chelsea are traditionally cautious at this stage: don’t expect a rout — the goal is simple: secure three points and move on.
Probable lineups
- Esperance: Bechir Ben Said – Mohamed Amine Ben Hamida, Mohamed Tougai, Yassine Meriah, Mohamed Ben Ali – Onuche Ogbelu, Khalil Genichi, Youcef Belaïli – Abdramane Konate, Rodrigo Rodrigues Silva, Elias Mokwana
- Chelsea: Robert Sanchez – Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Marc Cucurella – Reece James, Moises Caicedo – Enzo Fernandez – Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Liam Delap
Match facts and head-to-head
- Esperance and Chelsea have never faced each other before.
- Chelsea have played six matches at the CWC, winning by more than one goal only twice.
- In Esperance’s last 22 international fixtures, they have lost by more than two goals just once.
Prediction
This match will be a true test of Esperance’s resilience and a challenge to Chelsea’s tactical flexibility. The Londoners are undoubtedly superior, but they’re unlikely to take unnecessary risks that could lead to a careless goal. The Tunisians, on the other hand, will dig in defensively and try to make the most of their counterattacks. Given the statistics and playing styles of both teams, it’s logical to expect Esperance to fight until the end and keep the score respectable. My choice: Esperance with a +1.5 handicap at odds of 1.91.
