Luis Torres
Dailysports's expert
On July 8, 2025, the first semi-final of the FIFA Club World Cup will feature a clash between Fluminense and Chelsea. The match kicks off at 21:00 Central European Time. Let's take a look at a bet focused on team scoring in this encounter.
Fluminense
Fluminense started the Club World Cup campaign confidently, drawing 0-0 against Borussia Dortmund—their main rival for a playoff spot. Despite the lack of goals, the Brazilian side displayed organized football and maintained strong chances of progressing in the tournament. Next came a 4-2 win over South Korean side Ulsan, followed by a goalless draw against Mamelodi Sundowns in the final group stage match, as they couldn't break down their opponent. Nevertheless, five points from three games secured Fluminense second place in the group and a playoff berth.
In the round of 16, Fluminense caused a sensation by defeating Italian giants Inter 2-0, keeping a clean sheet, and then edged out another tough opponent, Al-Hilal, in a hard-fought quarter-final. The Rio de Janeiro club is in excellent form: unbeaten in their last 11 matches across all competitions, with 8 wins and 3 draws.
Their defensive solidity stands out—Fluminense kept a clean sheet in six of those 11 matches, including three shutouts in this tournament. All of this makes the Brazilian side an extremely dangerous and well-organized opponent for Chelsea in the upcoming semi-final.
Fluminense also have Club World Cup experience: in 2023, they reached the final but lost to Manchester City 0-4.
Chelsea
Chelsea navigated the group stage with relative confidence. In the opening round, they comfortably saw off Los Angeles FC 2-0. The second match, against Flamengo, proved trickier: despite leading at halftime, the Blues conceded twice after the break and, after Jackson was sent off, shipped a third goal. The 1-3 defeat ultimately cost Chelsea top spot in the group. In the final group match, they convincingly beat Espérance Tunis 3-0 but remained second in the standings.
In the round of 16, Chelsea faced Benfica, leading by the middle of the second half but conceding from the penalty spot in the 95th minute, sending the match to extra time. There, Benfica went down to ten men, and Chelsea took control, finishing 4-1 winners.
In the quarter-final, Chelsea met another Brazilian side—Palmeiras—and managed a hard-fought 2-1 victory. Now, in the semi-final, they face their third Brazilian opponent of the tournament—Fluminense, a team Chelsea have never met before in official competition.
Recall that Chelsea were crowned Club World Cup champions in 2021, defeating Palmeiras in the final to lift the trophy.
Probable lineups
- Fluminense: Fabio, Rene, Thiago Silva, Guga, Ignacio, Nonato, Hercules, Bernal, Arias, Everaldo, Cano.
- Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Adarabioyo, Chalobah, Cucurella, Fernandez, Caicedo, Nkunku, Palmer, Neto, Joao Pedro.
Key facts and head-to-head
- Fluminense have won 7 of their last 9 matches.
- Fluminense have scored first in 3 of their last 4 matches.
- Chelsea are unbeaten in 7 of their last 8 matches.
- Chelsea have scored first in 7 of their last 8 matches.
- This is the first ever meeting between these two clubs.
Fluminense vs Chelsea match prediction
Both sides come into the semi-final in excellent form and with high ambitions. Fluminense are unbeaten in 11 straight matches and often play for results, relying on a rock-solid defense—keeping three clean sheets at this tournament. Chelsea, in turn, have also gone a long stretch without defeat and show maturity and composure in key moments, rarely faltering when it matters most. Given the high stakes—a spot in the final—expect a cautious, strategic contest with minimal risk-taking. Both teams are patient, waiting for their chances rather than throwing numbers forward, so a tight, low-scoring battle is the most likely scenario. My pick for this match is under 2.5 goals at odds of 1.78.
