Moises Caicedo will be one player to keep an eye on when Chelsea face Esperance Sportive de Tunis this Wednesday.
Caicedo is likely to start against the Tunisian side, with Enzo Maresca‘s men needing a win to guarantee qualification for the Club World Cup knockout round.
After losing 3-1 to Flamengo, Chelsea currently find themselves second in their group, level on points with ES Tunis.
Caicedo attracted a lot of spectators that day, and plenty of eyes will be on him again on Wednesday.
Moises Caicedo of Chelsea waves during the ceremony after Conference League final
Photo by Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Yellow-card happy Yael Falcon Perez handed Esperance Sportive de Tunis vs Chelsea game
Caicedo is walking a tightrope ahead of Chelsea’s potential round-of-16 clash after being booked in his side’s defeat to Flamengo.
It means that Caicedo is one yellow card away from suspension, which he could easily pick up this Wednesday after confirmation that Yael Falcon Perez will be refereeing the game.
The Argentine is known for dishing out bookings, handing out an astonishing 121 yellow cards in 2024/25.
Yael Falcon Perez’s 2024/25 record Total
Games 22
Yellow cards 121
Red cards 10
Via Transfermarkt
Ultimately, Caicedo and several of his teammates who are also one yellow card away from missing Chelsea’s next game are going to have to be very careful at Lincoln Financial Field.
Club World Cup trophy on display
Photo by Eva Marie Uzcategui – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
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Moises Caicedo avoiding booking would be a surprise
Caicedo is a player who loves a challenge, while winning the ball back is part of his role.
All in all, a lot of Chelsea supporters will probably be surprised if he finishes the game without receiving a yellow.
His combative style could easily see him pick up a booking given Falcon Perez’s track record. Of course, Maresca does not have to play the Ecuadorian.
The Chelsea manager has plenty of other midfield options, including new signing Dario Essugo. He is young, but Essugo is learning a lot from Romeo Lavia — an extremely talented midfielder — and has huge potential.
Again, though, with the Blues needing to win the game, Maresca will be expected to field a strong line-up, which makes Caicedo starting over Essugo more likely.