Club World Cup: Palmeiras vs Chelsea - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Chelsea and Palmeiras will square off in the second Club World Cup quarter-final on Friday in Philadelphia. That means, soon-to-be Chelsea man Estevao will get to play against his future team in a competitive fixture before making the summer move. 

The sides last met in the 2022 CWC final, when Chelsea needed extra time to break Palmeiras hearts and win their first-ever Club World Cup. 

They may be favourites across betting sites in NZ, but after losing to a Brazilian side already, Chelsea will need to tread carefully against their upcoming opponents.

Palmeiras

Palmeiras have been one of the most exciting sides to watch in this Club World Cup. Verdao are yet to taste defeat in the competition, despite playing against teams like Porto and Inter Miami. They are here after knocking out Brazilian and Latin American champions Botafogo in the round-of-16 too. 

Abel Ferreira was at the helm when Palmeiras lost to Chelsea in the 2022 final, and while much of the squad has changed since, he’ll be eager to settle the score. Odds from football betting sites suggest that a Palmeiras victory isn’t out of the question.

Team News: Gustavo Gomez will have to hand over the captain’s armband to someone else after getting his marching orders late in the Botafogo match. Joaquin Piquerez will join his skipper on the sidelines for picking up his second yellow of the tournament. 

Predicted Lineup: Weverton; Mayke, Giay, Bruno Fuchs, Vanderlan; Rios, Martinez, Mauricio; Allan, Vitor Roque, Estevao.

Chelsea

Manchester City’s early exit has left Chelsea as the only flag-bearer for the Premier League at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. The Blues survived a late scare against Benfica to remain one of the last eight standing. 

Enzo Maresca’s men sealed the Conference League just before the Club World Cup and now eye a cup double. Following a series of surprises in the last 16, they are among the strongest European outfits left in the tournament. That’s why betting apps have them as slight favourites over their Brazilian opponents.

Team News: Moises Caicedo has been one of Chelsea’s best players, but Maresca will have to leave him out of the matchday squad on Saturday. The Colombia international picked up his second yellow of the competition against Benfica, so he won’t be available for the quarter-finals.

Predicted Lineup: Sanchez; James, Colwill, Badiashile, Cucurella; Enzo, Lavia, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Delap, Palmer.

• These two sides have only met once in a competitive fixture before. Chelsea won that tie in extra time.  
• Palmeiras forward Paulinho has found the net in each of his team’s last two matches.
• Chelsea forward Neto is currently on a three-game scoring streak. 

Many European sides have already bowed out, but Chelsea have stayed the course. The defeat to Flamengo didn’t shake their confidence, and with the talent at Maresca’s disposal, they look well equipped to reach the semi-final. Especially if it goes down to the wire.

Palmeiras, despite their excellent run in the tournament so far, have faced European opposition only once, which was against a lacklustre Porto side in their opening match. 

Palmeiras haven’t lost a game in the competition and won’t make it easy for Chelsea, but competing with a squad built on a much larger budget could be their biggest obstacle yet. This could be a close battle, but Chelsea should grind out a victory. 

Estevao First Goalscorer @ $12.00

Estevao will be eager to show Chelsea fans why their club chose to spend a sizable amount on him. Although he hasn’t found the net yet, the youngster has been central to Palmeiras’ attacking play. Estevao leads the team with eight chances created and has attempted more shots than any other player. We’re backing him to break the deadlock at Lincoln Financial Field and deliver a rewarding return for bettors.