Jackson will be absentplaceholder image
Jackson will be absent | AFP via Getty Images
All the team news surrounding Benfica and Chelsea as they face off in the FIFA Club World Cup Round of 16.
Benfica were unbeaten through the group stage and they will require Chelsea to step up their game significantly in a win or go home scenario. Here we take a look at the team news surrounding both teams.
Chelsea injuries and suspensions
Chelsea went to the FIFA Club World Cup without Wesley Fofana, who will be hoping to return from his long-term knee injury during pre-season. The Blues are also without Mykhailo Mudryk, who has been charged over alleged doping violations.
In terms of their travelling squad, Chelsea will only be without Nicolas Jackson, who will serve the second and last game of his suspension following his group stage red card.
Benfica injuries and suspensions
Tomás Araújo has been struggling with injury since the start of June and was not included in the travelling squad for that reason, Benfica also had to travel without Manu Silva and Alexander Bah, who both suffered ACL injuries in the same game back in February. They will be out for much of the year. Andrea Belotti will be back after suspension. He was sent off in the first group stage game and missed the last two games int he US.
Chelsea’s FIFA Club World Cup squad
Filip Jorgensen, Mike Penders, Robert Sanchez, Gaga Slonina, Josh Acheampong, Tosin Adarabioyo, Aaron Anselmino, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Malo Gusto, Reece James, Mamadou Sarr, Moises Caicedo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Dario Essugo, Enzo Fernandez, Romeo Lavia, Andrey Santos, Liam Delap, Tyrique George, Marc Guiu, Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer.
Benfica FIFA Club World Cup squad
Trubin, Diogo Ferreira and André Gomes, Álvaro Carreras, António Silva, Dahl, Otamendi, Rui Silva, Gonçalo Oliveira, Joshua Wynder, Leandro Santos and Bajrami;, Aursnes, Kökcü, Barreiro, Florentino, João Veloso, Rafael Luís, João Rego, Renato Sanches and Diogo Prioste, Di María, Pavlidis, Aktürkoğlu, Belotti, Schjelderup, Prestianni, Bruma, Tiago Gouveia and Eduardo Fernandes.
What Enzo Maresca has said
Chelsea boss Maresca said ahead of this one: “I think Benfica – not only in this competition but always – are a big club in Europe. In the last game, they beat Bayern Munich, which shows how good they are and what they are able to do.The Blues head coach oversees today's training session in Miami I think it’s going to be a balanced game. In this tournament, at this stage and these conditions, it’s difficult to see a big difference between teams. So I’m quite sure it’s going to be a balanced game, a tough game, and in this kind of game, the small details are very important.
“Now we’re in a knockout game and in a knockout game anything can happen. That is not just for us, it’s for every club, and the players are aware that at this moment the team that makes the most mistakes will be the team that are back home the day after. The most important thing is the way we prepare ourselves. It’s very complicated at this moment, for many reasons, to see games where the difference between the two teams is big. They are more or less very close, and it’s a game where the details are going to make the difference.”
What Bruno Lage has said
Ben fica boss Bruno Lage was asked about Joao Felix amid transfer links with the Chelsea star. He said: "He is a special player for Benfica, for me, and he is on his holidays. He is maybe asleep now because he is on the other side of the world. It's important to be focused on the players who are going to play against Chelsea."
He added on Pedro Neto: “For me, he is one of the best wingers in the world. They are very good, but they also know that we are a good team. I expect an excellent game. When I look to my players, they give me the reasons to believe that it's 50-50. So, we go with that ambition [to win].”
Continue Reading