Chelsea, from England, will face Palmeiras, from Brazil, this Saturday in Abu Dhabi in the final match of the Club World Cup. Both are going for their first title in the tournament that brings together the champions of each confederation.
This is how the teams arrive
Chelsea, under the command of the German Thomas Tuchelsuffered to beat the Saudi Al-Hilal of Riyadh, Asian champion, 1-0 in the semifinals, with a solitary goal from the Belgian Romelu Lukaku.
For its part, palm treeschampion of the last two editions of the Copa Libertadoreswon 2-0 against the Egyptian Al-Ahly from Cairo, the African representative, with goals from Raphael Veiga and Dudú, in a match in which the South Americans dominated from start to finish.
The ‘Verdao’, from Sao Paulo, led by the Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira, played the 2020 Qatar Club World Cup, which due to the pandemic was played in 2021 and stayed in the semifinal, while Chelsea was defeated in the 2012 final, in Japan, precisely against the Brazilian Corinthians, Palmeiras’ historic backyard rival.
The Brazilian team also bears the defeat of 1999, when in the now defunct Intercontinental Cup, which was replaced by the current format of the Club World Cup, they fell 1-0 in the final against Manchester United, also from England.
(You may be interested in: Video: Mbappé’s goal that gave PSG victory in the last minutes).
For this Club World Cup final, Chelsea is awaiting whether Tuchel will be able to sit on the bench, who is already in Abu Dhabi after having overcome the coronavirus, although awaiting further analysis.
Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy arrived in Abu Dhabi after playing in the African Cup of Nations and becoming champion with Senegal, but the Spanish Kepa Arrizabalaga must be in the reserve, while the injured winger Ben Chilwell will be replaced by the also Spanish Marcos Alonso.
Possible lineups:
Chelsea: Kepa Arrizabalaga; Andreas Christensen, Thiago Silva, Antonio Rudiger; Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Alonso; Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku
Coach: Thomas Tuchel
Palm trees: Weverton; Marcos Rocha, Gustavo Gómez, Luan, Joaquín Piquerez; Danilo, Ze Rafael, Gustavo Scarpa; Raphael Veiga, Dudu and Rony.
Coach: Abel Ferreira.
AFP
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