Benfica take on the visitors Chelsea in the round of 1/8-finals of FIFA Club World Cup. The match will be played on Saturday, June 28th at Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte, NC).
Benfica have now failed to reclaim the Portuguese Primeira Liga title for two consecutive seasons, falling short both in 2024 and 2025 to their city rivals, Sporting. To make matters worse, they also lost to the Lions in the Portuguese Cup final earlier this year. At least Trubin and his teammates salvaged some silverware mid-season, winning the League Cup after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Sporting. On the global stage, however, Benfica have arguably outperformed expectations. After coming from 0-2 down to salvage a draw against Boca Juniors, they predictably thrashed Auckland City. But what nobody saw coming was their narrow but sensational 1-0 win over a heavily rotated Bayern Munich — a match where Trubin made several brilliant saves. This unexpected result secured top spot in their group ahead of the Germans, but also handed them a tougher knockout draw against Chelsea. Their defensive structure looks stronger than ever, and their ability to seize key moments has been a defining factor throughout the tournament.
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Chelsea have come alive under their current manager. The Blues went through a turbulent period in recent years, but Enzo Maresca has finally brought stability and a clear identity to the side. Under his leadership, Chelsea not only secured a top-four finish in the Premier League — ensuring a Champions League return — but also lifted the UEFA Conference League, largely with their second-string squad. Their Club World Cup campaign started confidently with a composed 2-0 win over Los Angeles FC. However, reality hit hard in the next game when they were outplayed by Flamengo, suffering a disappointing 1-3 defeat compounded by a foolish red card for Nicolas Jackson. Fortunately, they bounced back in style with a 3-0 demolition of Esperance, comfortably progressing to the playoffs. A special mention goes to young striker Liam Delap, who has stepped up impressively with an assist against LAFC and a goal versus the Tunisians. Chelsea’s dynamic attack and improved midfield control have been key factors in their recent success.
All three previous meetings — in the 2012 UEFA Champions League and the 2013 UEFA Europa League — ended in victories for the London side. Benfica have shown resilience, but in terms of quality and depth, they are unlikely to match Chelsea over 90 minutes. Expect the Blues to take care of business in regulation time.
Prediction for the match: Chelsea to win.
