Raphael Durand
Dailysports's expert
On June 20, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the marquee match of Group D’s second round at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will take place: Brazilian side Flamengo face off against London’s Chelsea. Here’s a bet on goals in this clash with a solid value.
Match preview
Filipe Luís’s men made light work of Espérance, completely dominating both possession and chance creation. Luiz Araújo was in sensational form, registering a goal and an assist, while the whole team delivered mature, balanced football. Notably, Flamengo are not just an attacking force—they know how to shut opponents down: in 6 out of their last 8 international matches, the Brazilians kept a clean sheet.
Their pragmatic style, combined with experience and tactical discipline, allows Flamengo to adapt to any opponent. Despite their attacking potential, they rarely rush things—especially against sides of similar quality. Most likely, against Chelsea, the focus will be on reliability and controlling the tempo.
Enzo Maresca’s team left a strong impression in their match against Los Angeles, displaying attacking aggression and confident ball movement. Despite their inconsistent form in both the Europa League and Premier League, the Blues look composed and disciplined at the Club World Cup. Seventeen shots on goal in the first round show their intent to play on the front foot, but that approach may be adjusted for this fixture.
The Londoners rarely allow lapses at the back—conceding no more than one goal in 4 of their last 5 matches in this tournament. Offensively, the team prefers a rational approach, avoiding unnecessary risks. Given the opponent’s quality and the need for caution, Chelsea may opt for a pragmatic style, aiming for a minimal result.
Probable lineups
- Flamengo: Agustín Rossi – Ayrton Lucas, Léo Pereira, Léo Ortiz, Guillermo Varela – Giorgian de Arrascaeta, Gerson Santos, Jorginho, Erick Pulgar – Johnny Cardinoti Pedro, Luiz Araújo
- Chelsea: Robert Sánchez – Reece James, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella – Moisés Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Cole Palmer – Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson
Match facts and head-to-head
- Flamengo and Chelsea meet for the first time at official level.
- In 4 of their last 5 Club World Cup matches, Chelsea have not conceded more than one goal.
- Flamengo have scored at least two goals in 4 of their last 5 matches at this tournament.
Prediction
This match promises to be extremely tight—both teams have shown they can dominate play, but are also organized and disciplined defensively. With tournament motivation high (to avoid Bayern in the round of 16), a cautious and restrained approach from both sides is expected. Chances may be at a premium. Our pick: Under 2.5 goals at odds of 1.91.
