The Blues are currently second in Group D, three points behind Flamengo, who have already qualified. Chelsea are level on points with Esperance, making this a decisive head-to-head clash. Tunis kicked off their campaign with a 2-0 loss to Flamengo on June 17 but bounced back well with a 1-0 win over Los Angeles FC.
That victory brought Esperance up to three points, the same as Chelsea, but they’ll need a win on Tuesday to go through. A draw won’t be enough for them, as Chelsea hold the edge on goal difference.
Esperance earned their spot in the tournament as the highest-ranked eligible team in CAF’s four-year ranking. This is their fourth appearance in the finals, having previously competed in 2011, 2018, and 2019.
They’ve lost just once since early April, that loss coming against Flamengo and should come into this match with confidence after their win over LAFC.
Chelsea started their campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over LAFC, and then took the lead against Flamengo in their next game on June 20. However, things unraveled in the second half. Flamengo came back to win 3-1, and Chelsea were reduced to ten men after Nicolas Jackson was sent off.
Despite that setback, Enzo Maresca’s team still control their destiny. Thanks to a better goal difference, they only need a draw to move on to the knockout stage.
A second straight loss, though, would see them crash out, and questions would certainly be raised if they failed to advance.
Chelsea are in the tournament as winners of the 2020–21 Champions League. This is their third appearance in the Club World Cup finals, having previously competed in 2012 and 2021. They won the title the last time they were in the competition.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
ES Tunis are likely to stick with the same starting lineup that got them the win over LAFC last time out. Youcef Belaili, one of their standout players, is expected to lead the attack once again.Rodrigo Rodrigues should keep his place through the middle, while Elias Mokwana will provide a threat from out wide. Yassine Meriah is also set to anchor the defense from his central role.
Chelsea, on the other hand, will be without Nicolas Jackson, who is suspended after his red card against Flamengo. Aside from that, the rest of the squad remains available, and Liam Delap is expected to start up front again following his summer move.
There might be a change at right-back, with Reece James potentially shifting back from midfield. That move could open up a spot in the attack for Noni Madueke to come into the starting lineup.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
ES Tunis possible starting lineup:Ben Said; Ben Ali, Tougai, Meriah, Ben Hamida; Mokwana, Guenichi, Ogbelu, Konate; Belaili; Rodrigo
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Delap
EXPERT PREDICTION
Esperance 2-4 Chelsea
This won’t be an easy game for Chelsea, as ES Tunis have plenty of quality, but the Blues are still expected to edge through to the next round with a hard-fought win.
