Chelsea and Palmeiras are set to face off in a highly anticipated quarter-final showdown at the FIFA Club World Cup on Saturday, but both teams will be without key players for the encounter.
The Blues edged past Benfica in the previous round, needing extra time to secure a 4-1 victory after their Portuguese opponents were reduced to ten men.
Palmeiras also endured a marathon match, advancing after a grueling extra-time win over domestic rivals Botafogo.
As the two sides prepare to meet, six players have already been ruled out of the tie.
For Chelsea, Wesley Fofana remains unavailable, having not been included in the squad for the tournament. The London club is targeting his return during pre-season.
Benoit Badiashile is a major doubt after sustaining an injury in the Benfica match, while Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended from football over alleged use of a banned substance.
Moises Caicedo will also miss out after collecting his second yellow card of the competition in the last round.
However, Chelsea will be boosted by the return of Senegalese forward Nicolas Jackson, who is back in the squad after serving a suspension.
Palmeiras, on the other hand, will be without influential defender Gustavo Gomez, who received a red card during extra time against Botafogo.
The Brazilian side is also expected to remain without Murillo, while Anibal Moreno, who picked up an injury in the group stage, made his return from the bench in their previous outing.
Chelsea Determined to Avoid Repeat of Brazilian Setback
Chelsea approach this weekend’s fixture with a sense of caution, having already suffered at the hands of Brazilian opposition earlier in the tournament.
Their sole loss in the competition came against Flamengo, who handed them a 3-1 defeat in the group stage on June 20.
Despite taking the lead in that match, Chelsea’s momentum was halted after Nicolas Jackson received a straight red card for a reckless challenge.
Since then, the Premier League outfit has bounced back impressively, dispatching Esperance 3-1 in their final group fixture before eliminating Benfica with a commanding extra-time performance.
As they gear up to face Palmeiras, Chelsea will be eager to keep their momentum going and avoid a second setback against a Brazilian club at this year’s tournament.
