Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Palmeiras

This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their latest outing in the Club World Cup. In the quarter-final stage the last remaining Premier League team will take on future Blues man Estevao and Palmeiras. Despite a blip against Brazilian opponents in the group stage, Enzo Maresca led his side past Benfica in the Round of 16 and has won the last two matches in rather dominant fashion.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Palmeiras for Club World Cup Tie

How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently

Robert Sanchez has started most matches in this tournament in goal. Filip Jorgensen was his replacement in the one he missed. Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiahsile, Levi Colwill, Malo Gusto, Marc Cucurella, Josh Acheampong, and Reece James have all started across the back line.

James also played in defensive midfield where Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, and Moises Caicedo have featured. Enzo has been moved further forward recently with previous CAM Cole Palmer playing out wide on two occasions. Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall have also started in the other attacking midfield spots.

Up front, it has been less of a battle with Nicolas Jackson initially starting before a red card saw him replaced by Liam Delap who has started three in a row.

Chelsea Recent Form & Tactics

Maresca has been setting up as usual in his 4-2-3-1 but the player roles have changed to keep opponents ready. He has used an inverted full-back moving into the pivot to allow Enzo to push forward like we saw during the regular season. We’ve also seen a standard pivot with Palmer moving inside and being replaced by a marauding Cucurella who ends up as the left winger when in possession.

More often than not the idea is to get into a 3-2-4-1 shape or something similar, they’re just developing new ways to get there, including a slightly different 4-2-2-2 idea.

The tactical flexibility bit them against Flamengo, where unfamiliarity and some mistakes in the decision-making process saw them lose 3-1, they recovered fairly well and dominated both matches against Tunis and then Benfica. With just one defeat to their name the Blues made it out of the group and past the first knockout round, further than a number of Europe’s elite.

Chelsea Absences to Consider

Badiashile was withdrawn from a recent match with a knock and likely won’t be risked for this one. As per Sofascore, Caicedo is suspended due to yellow card accumulation while Mykhailo Mudryk is also suspended entirely. The manager also confirmed while speaking to the press that Lavia has a small issue and likely won’t feature.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Palmeiras

GK – Rob Sanchez

LB – Malo Gusto

CB – Levi Colwill

CB – Tosin Adarabioyo

RB – Josh Acheampong

DM – Reece James

DM – Enzo Fernandez

AM – Cole Palmer

W – Noni Madueke

W – Pedro Neto

ST – Nicolas Jackson