Chelsea are least 180 minutes away from the Club World Cup final and they will have eyes on their second piece of silverware in as many months after winning the UEFA Conference League. Barring their blip against Flamengo in the group stage, Enzo Maresca’s side have overcame every hurdle that has come their way.
The Blues overcame a weather-affected Round of 16 tie against Portuguese giants Benfica to win 4-1 after extra-time. The Stamford Bridge side led, through Reece James, until the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time before Angel Di Maria sent the game beyond 90 minutes.
Christopher Nkunku, Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were on target in extra-time as Chelsea fired home three quickfire goals to take the game beyond the 10-men of Benfica.
There have also been shocks throughout the tournament and in particular the knockout stages. Al-Hilal knocked out Manchester City in a 4-3 win after extra time to end their hopes of returning to the summit of world football.
Fluminense also stunned a European giant as they downed the beaten Champions League finalists Inter Milan in the round of 16 with a 2-0 win in Charlotte.
The Blues have a few days before they step foot onto the pitch in Philadelphia but in light of Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund wins in the first knockout round, Chelsea’s path to the final has now become clearer ahead of the showpiece encounter in New York on July 13.
Chelsea will take on Brazilian outfit Palmeiras, who beat rivals Botafogo at the end of June, and they will face the winners of Fluminense and Al-Hilal in the semi-final, who play prior to kick-off in North Carolina.
Their time in the United States hasn’t been without controversy. The Blues head coach was left furious after their win over Benfica in the last-16 was delayed for four hours and 39 minutes – finishing in the early hours of Sunday morning.
“I think it’s a joke, to be honest,” said Maresca.
“It’s not football. It’s completely something new; I struggle to understand.
“I can understand if it’s security reasons but if you suspend seven or eight games then it’s probably not the right place to do the competition.
“It’s not normal to suspend the game. In a World Cup, how many games are suspended? Zero probably. In Europe how many games get suspended? Zero.
“We’ve been here two weeks and they’ve already suspended six or seven games. There is some problems for me personally.”
In the other side of the draw, there are two blockbuster all-European ties with reigning Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain taking on Bundesliga title-winners Bayern Munich.
The Parisiens brushed aside Inter Miami 4-0, while Vincent Kompany’s side eliminated Flamengo with former Chelsea foe Harry Kane scoring twice in their 4-2 triumph.
Real Madrid, freshly bolstered by the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold, will be looking to have a repeat result of the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund.
Jude Bellingham will not come up against brother, Jobe, following his summer move to the Westfalenstadion after picking up a suspension during their 2-1 win over Monterrey in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Chelsea’s path to the Club World Cup final
Quarter-final vs Palmeiras – July 5, 8pm.
Semi-final vs Al-Hilal/Fluminense – July 8, 8pm or July 9, 8pm.
Final vs PSG/Bayern Munich/Real Madrid/Borussia Dortmund – July 13, 8pm.
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