FIFA Club World Cup Semi-Finals Preview

The Fifa Club World Cup semi-finals take place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this week with two tremendous ties in prospect. The first of them sees 2023 Copa Libertadores winners Fluminense take on Chelsea, UEFA Champions League winners four years ago and the reigning Conference League champions. Then the current kings of Europe, Paris Saint-Germain, meet the mighty Real Madrid in a clash worthy of any final.

Both matches will be broadcast live on DAZN and Channel 5 in the UK, with kick-offs scheduled for 8pm BST on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. PSG have been consistently impressive in the United States, winning four of their five games to nil and conceding only once – in the shock group stage defeat to Botafogo. Fluminense have also been defensively solid while Chelsea and Real Madrid have leaked more goals than they would have liked on their paths to the last four.

After hosting a couple of goalless group games at the start of the tournament, MetLife Stadium has been rewarded with some spectacular matches of late and these two semis promise to be full of drama.

Semi-final fixtures

• Tuesday, 8pm: Fluminense v Chelsea
• Wednesday, 8pm: Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid

Tip 1: Over 3.5 goals in Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid @ 7/5 with Paddy Power

These two teams are full of attacking flair and goalscoring talent, so we can expect an entertaining affair that is unlikely to remain 0-0 for long. PSG began with a bang by beating Atletico Madrid 4-0 and they led Inter Miami by the same score at half-time in the round of 16 before easing off on Lionel Messi’s teammates. Luis Enrique’s side destroyed Inter Milan 5-0 in the Champions League final too, so they are not short of goals at all, but their defence is likely to be tested fully by Los Blancos’s star-studded attack.

Madrid have scored three goals in three of their five Club World Cup matches, but are prone to leaving the back door open, so there is every chance this semi features at least four goals.

Tip 2: Marc Cucurella Over 1.5 fouls in Fluminense v Chelsea @ 11/8 with Paddy Power

Marc Cucurella has not been a heavy-volume fouler during his four years in the Premier League, averaging around one per game. But the Spanish defender has been a bit too keen to stick the boot in at the Club World Cup, where he has been whistled for nine fouls in Chelsea’s five games. 

Whether it is because of stricter refereeing or fatigue after a long season for club and country, Cucurella is averaging twice as many fouls per 90 minutes than normal. So the odds look good for him to foul two or more times in Tuesday’s last-four clash against  a Brazilian side who will be doing everything in their power to stop Chelsea’s flow. 

Tip 3: Jhon Arias to score a goal assisted by Thiago Silva in Fluminense v Chelsea @ 80/1 with Paddy Power

Chelsea’s defence has looked shaky at times in this tournament and they could be exposed by a physical Fluminense side, particularly at set pieces. Flamengo’s second goal in their 3-1 group stage win over the Blues came from a corner and their Rio rivals will be looking to exploit any weakness there. Fluminense scored from a scramble after a corner against Ulsan HD with Jhon Arias denied by the keeper just before Freytes fired home.

The Colombian attacking midfielder has a great goalscoring instinct around the box and could be on hand to pick up the pieces, if ex-Chelsea star Thiago Silva finds space to make first contact on any crosses.