Benfica vs Chelsea Predictions

Benfica vs Chelsea predictions for Saturday’s Club World Cup tie in Charlotte. Benfica topped Group C unexpectedly and now face Chelsea, who surprisingly finished second in Group D, setting up a compelling knockout-stage encounter between two unpredictable sides. Read on for all our free predictions and betting tips..

Club World Cup | June 28 2025 at 9:00 pm UK at Bank of America Stadium

Benfica vs Chelsea Predictions

Is This a Clash of Giants or Just a Hot Day in Charlotte?

• Defensive Resolve: Chelsea have kept five clean sheets in their last eight, showing their backline is clicking at the right time.
• Benfica’s Resilience: The Lisbon outfit are unbeaten in their last 16 games over 90 minutes, although four of their last six have ended all square.
• Fatigue Factor: With temperatures pushing into the 30s again in Charlotte, expect tempo and goals to drop off as both sides manage energy carefully.

Best Bet for Benfica vs Chelsea

The stage is set for a sizzling quarter-final showdown between Benfica and Chelsea in the ever-divisive, drama-soaked FIFA Club World Cup. This time, though, it’s not just the football making the headlines—it’s the weather, the absentees, and the sheer unpredictability of two sides with plenty of flair but also a fair bit of inconsistency. With Charlotte expected to dish out temperatures in the 30s again, stamina might become just as decisive as tactics. The sweltering heat already threw both sides off in their final group games, and one suspects we could be in for another test of endurance as much as skill.

Benfica scraped through to this stage thanks to a gutsy 2-2 comeback against Boca Juniors—despite being a man down—and then walloped Auckland City 6-0 in a result that looks flashier than the performance deserved. A rotated Bayern Munich side collapsed late on in a surprise 1-0 win for the Portuguese outfit, but it’s hard to ignore how much they struggled at times, especially when under pressure.

Chelsea, meanwhile, started solidly with a 2-0 win over LAFC, lost their heads against Flamengo (and a key forward to suspension), but responded with a thumping 3-0 win against ES Tunis. They’ve been far from perfect, yet they carry a punch Benfica might struggle to absorb.

Best Bet for Benfica vs Chelsea: Chelsea to Win & Under 3.5 Goals

Here at BettingTips4You.com, we don’t mess around giving you five different tips just to hedge our bets. We believe in delivering one, singular, well-researched prediction that stands tall among all others. That’s why our Best Bet for this intriguing tie is Chelsea to win & under 3.5 goals.

Now, why does this feel like the right call? Let’s dig in.

The weather has been a silent opponent for every team in this tournament, and it’s not going to go anywhere before Saturday’s clash. The previous matches in Charlotte have been more draining than dazzling, and both squads looked visibly fatigued after their last outings. Chelsea, though, managed to conserve energy better, showing a disciplined, controlled approach in their 3-0 victory over ES Tunis. That ability to manage tempo could be the difference.

On the other side, Benfica have their own headaches. Álvaro Carreras is suspended—a blow for their left side—and Tomas Araujo is still doubtful. That already thin defensive unit will now have to contain the likes of Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto, who looked menacing in Chelsea’s last match. Benfica’s 4-2-3-1, spearheaded by Pavlidis, might struggle to get any real joy against a Chelsea backline that’s now kept five clean sheets in their last eight outings.

Benfica have gone unbeaten in 90 minutes across their last 16 matches. Impressive, yes—but dig deeper and you’ll find that four of their last six were draws. They’ve become something of a specialist in stalemates, especially when things get tight. However, Chelsea’s physicality, tactical flexibility, and individual quality—Palmer and Neto again spring to mind—give them an edge that might just be enough to break down the Portuguese side without turning this into a goal fest.

One can’t ignore how Chelsea dominated against ES Tunis, and although that was clearly an easier opponent, the confidence and cohesion they displayed suggests that the team are finally clicking after a few early wobbles. There’s still work to be done, of course, but against a Benfica side with holes in their setup, it’s fair to expect Chelsea to keep it professional and grab a win without fireworks.

As BettingTips4You.com expert Gram Dodd neatly put it:

“In stifling conditions and with tactical edges favouring the English side, Chelsea to win without a goal glut is the clearest path—not flashy, but effective.”

Expect Chelsea to dictate the flow, frustrate Benfica, and squeeze out a result that gets them through with minimal fuss.

A 2-0 win feels just about right—clinical, conservative, and just enough to see them through.

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