Joao Pedro starts, Caicedo and James hope, Santos dilemma – Chelsea lineups vs PSG

Chelsea will face their toughest challenge of the Club World Cup as they prepare to play Paris Saint-Germain in Sunday’s final. Having gotten through a set of teams more closely resembling the Europa League rather than Champions League, there can be no underestimating their opponents here.

PSG are the best team in the world. Although they will have to beat Chelsea to get that crown officially in New Jersey at the MetLife Stadium, Luis Enrique’s side are by far the most dangerous side out there.

In the past two months they have beaten Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Inter by an aggregate score of 15-0. As the champions of Europe, they have been the favourites to win FIFA’s newly structured Club World Cup from the start.

As for Chelsea, Enzo Maresca is into a second final of his first year in charge. Having gone through a pathway imitating that of Gareth Southgate at major tournaments with England, he will be looking to extend a largely positive run since the start of May.

Chelsea have come into their own of late and have taken their Premier League form to America. Boosted by the signing of Joao Pedro and attacking fluidity that had been lacking in much of 2025, the Blues will not make life easy for PSG.

They have bypassed Benfica (4-1 after extra time), Palmeiras (2-1), and Fluminense (2-0). As Maresca experiments with new ideas both on and off the ball, it has been a successful few weeks for the Italian.

Here, with Chelsea on the verge of banking over £90million in rewards money, football.london writers pick their team for the match with plenty of decisions for Maresca to make.

Tom Coley

Chelsea are up against it here and need to go with a physically strong team to try and win the midfield battle. For that reason, with uncertainty over Romeo Lavia’s fitness and readiness, Andrey Santos should get another go.

Starting at the back, though, Robert Sanchez keeps his place. His role of passing through the PSG press will be vital for helping Chelsea’s chances, whilst he will also need to have a good shot-stopping day as well.

Reece James can return at right-back after coming out as a precaution. His battle against PSG’s wingers will be a great test. Next to him, one of Trevoh Chalobah or Tosin Adarabioyo will partner Levi Colwill, who is sure to come in after his suspension.

It’s a toss-up between the two but Chalobah has got a strong partnership with Colwill and could easily be the one favoured. Marc Cucurella, of course, will be the left-back.

In midfield, things do get a bit more tricky. Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Lavia has been the enforcer trio of choice but Lavia must be protected if there is any doubt over his availability. Santos is more than good enough to slot in and either sit with Caicedo or play the advanced role.

This would mean pushing Palmer to the right, where there will be space to attack Nuno Mendes as he goes into advanced positions. Joao Pedro, meanwhile, has to keep his place after scoring twice against Fluminense. It means keeping Nicolas Jackson out and leaving Liam Delap on the bench after his own ban came to an end.

It will be harsh on Delap and continued punishment for Jackson, but Pedro has earned his spot. He will be flanked by Pedro Neto, who could be moved out to the left again to accommodate the extra midfielder.

Coley’s XI: Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez, Santos; Palmer, Pedro, Neto.