FIFA Club World Cup: Supercomputer Predicts Winner as Real Madrid Faces PSG
- Opta's supercomputer has picked the winner of the FIFA Club World Cup ahead of the semi-final
- Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Fluminense are the clubs fighting for the expanded Club World Cup trophy
- PSG and Real Madrid will be the biggest semi-final clash, with the two European giants renewing their rivalry in the USA
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Opta's supercomputer has predicted the winner of the FIFA Club World Cup, with Paris Saint-Germain set to face Real Madrid and Chelsea squaring off against Fluminense in the semi-finals.
Source: Getty Images
The expanded FIFA Club World Cup will end on Sunday, July 13, after a month of exciting action in the USA.
Some of the big boys like Manchester City, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Juventus are already out. The story of the tournament has been Brazilian giants Fluminense's run to the semi-final.
What teams are left at Club World Cup?
Paris Saint-Germain have been the most impressive team at the tournament, and their only defeat so far was against Botafogo in the group stages.
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They comfortably knocked out Bayern, but Jamal Musiala's injury overshadowed the match. The attacker suffered a fractured fibula. The 2025 Champions League winners will face Real Madrid in the semi-final.
Real Madrid started their campaign slowly but have gradually showcased their quality. Xabi Alonso's side remains undefeated in the tournament and will give PSG a tough challenge.
Chelsea, on the other hand, are the only Premier League team left after Manchester City were stunned by Al-Hilal in the round of 16.
The Blues face Fluminense, who stunned Inter Milan in the round of 16, before eliminating Saudi giants Al-Hilal in the quarter-final. A Brazilian club has beaten Chelsea in the tournament. Can Fluminense emulate them?
"There are two things for me that are very clear, and one is that the quality of Brazilian players is top, the best quality," Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca said.
"At the same time, what is also very clear is the energy that they have in this moment compared to other teams that, for different reasons, we don’t have. So for me, it’s the quality and energy from the teams [that have helped them perform strongly]."
Who will win Club World Cup?
PSG remain the front-runners to win the tournament. Opta's supercomputer has backed them to lift the trophy with a 39.1% chance, ahead of Chelsea, who are second-favourites with a 34.1% probability.
Real Madrid, the 15-time European champions, are the third favourites with a 24.2% chance of winning it all. Fluminense have a 2.6% chance of winning.
Chelsea vs Fluminense team news
Moises Caicedo will return after missing the game against Palmeiras via suspension. Maresca, however, lost Levi Colwill and new signing Liam Delap to a one-match ban.
In Delap's absence, Joao Pedro could get his first start as Nicolas Jackson continues to find his way back into Maresca's plans after two red cards in four games.
The game will be an emotional reunion for Chelsea legend Thiago Silva, who spent four memorable years in West London.
The Brazilian knows a lot of the current Chelsea players in the squad.
Has FIFA Club World Cup been a success?
The jury is still out on the expanded Club World Cup. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp have raised concerns about the tournament.
Source: Getty Images
Teams who have reached deep into the tournament will get just a few weeks of pre-season, which could affect their 2025/26 season.
"Maybe in November, December or January it will be a disaster, we are exhausted and the World Cup has destroyed us," Guardiola said via Sky Sports.
Klopp said it is the worst idea.
"In the end, it's all about the game and not the surrounding aspects - and that's why the Club World Cup is the worst idea ever implemented in football in this regard," he told Welt in Germany.
Why João Pedro played at Club World Cup
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported why Chelsea's new signing Joao Pedro can still play at the Club World Cup despite joining late.
Teams were allowed to register new players between June 23 and July 3.
The star played in the second half in Chelsea's quarter-final clash with Palmeiras.
Martin Moses, head of Sports desk, contributed to this article by adding details about Chelsea vs Fluminense team news.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
