Benfica’s route to the Club World Cup knockout stage included surprising victories over Auckland City and Bayern Munich. Despite this strong run, they now face one of the tournament favorites—Chelsea—in a high-stakes tie in North Carolina.
Chelsea’s Brazilian talent, Andrey Santos, returned to the squad following a loan at Strasbourg and recently made his tournament debut. His role is still being defined, with the coaching staff seeing him as more offensive in nature rather than as a deep-lying midfielder. His adaptability will be tested further as Chelsea progress.
Meanwhile, Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca expressed satisfaction with Enzo Fernandez’s growing influence, pointing to his contributions in goals and assists. The Argentine midfielder has been instrumental in Chelsea’s success so far, including a strong display against Esperance Tunis where he both scored and created chances. His tactical understanding has improved, fitting well into Maresca’s system after early struggles.
Pedro Neto has also been a standout performer for the Blues throughout the tournament. His creativity and threat from wide areas have caught attention, making him a constant challenge for opposition defenses.
Benfica manager Bruno Lage, who once managed in the Premier League, acknowledged the strength of Chelsea’s attacking force. He noted how familiar he is with Neto and admitted that Enzo Fernandez’s development since leaving Benfica has made him one of the top midfielders currently playing in Europe.
As Chelsea gear up for this crucial tie, the pressure is on both their young stars and experienced figures to maintain momentum. Benfica, though viewed as underdogs, have proven their resilience and will be aiming to disrupt Chelsea’s rhythm in this knockout fixture.