Fluminense vs Chelsea: Tips, Odds, and Match Preview

With global glory on the line, Fluminense meets Chelsea MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the first semifinal match of the 2025 Club World Cup.

Both sides have more than deserved their place in the top four, having put up monster performances for the past three weeks.

Rock Solid Fluminense

Captained by perennial all-star defender Thiago Silva—who, incidentally, played his best years for Chelsea—Fluminense is the more defensively sound of the two. In the six games so far, the Tricolor conceded only three goals, bested only by PSG with two.

On the road to semifinal glory, Renato Gaucho’s side trailed Borussia Dortmund for the top spot of Group F before pulling a stunt and seeing off UCL finalist Inter Milan in the first knockout game. Soon came the second, where the team stood tall and outclassed the high-spending Al Hilal 2:1. The hero, once again, was Hercules with an immaculate strike in the 70th minute.

Fluminense is currently sitting sixth in the Brazilian Serie A, four points below leaders Flamengo, but with a better Club World Cup to show for. Talking about bragging rights.

Fluminense Injury & Suspension News

Centre-back Juan Pablo Freytes splits up partnership with Thiago Silva due to suspension, while midfielder Martinelli, who scored a stunning opener against Al Hilal, is out with injury. A possible start for super sub Hercules?

Chelsea on a High

The London Blues came second in Group D, trailing only behind another Brazilian side, Flamengo. Enzo Maresca’s men rallied for the knockout stage and turned over the familiar foe Benfica in a crazy 4:1 match that lasted for well over three hours, interruption and all.

The top 8 round saw them go toe to toe with Palmeiras, yet another Brazilian side, winning 2:1 via an unlucky Weverton own goal in the 83rd minute.

Chelsea came to the tour fresh off the heels of winning the Europa Conference League. While not the most coveted silverware on the Old Continent itself, it meant that the Blues became the first club in history to pick up all five European trophies. Not to mention finishing fourth in the Premier League and securing Champions League football next season.

Chelsea Injury & Suspension News

Liam Delap and Levi Colwill picked up their second yellows of the tournament and won’t be able to help the team on Tuesday. Club captain Reece James got injured in the Palmeiras warm-up and probably won’t feature, either. Luckily for Chelsea, midfielder Moises Casicedo is back from suspension.

Fluminense vs Chelsea Prediction

Fluminense are unbeaten in their last five matches heading into the semifinals and are a tough nut to crack for any side, let alone the injury-ridden Chelsea. Still, I do believe in this Maresca team. They’ve shown time and again they’ve got what it takes to secure cup glory and would be a deserved finalist.

Do I think it will be easy? No, far from it. Do I think it will be entertaining? Absolutely!

CryptoGamba tip: Chelsea to qualify – 1.34@ Metaspins